The Woodbury Math and Science Academy badminton coach has been arrested and charged with seeking to pay for sex from someone he believed was a minor.

Jamey Scott Ralph Strand, 44, of River Falls, Wis., was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly trying to meet with a 14-year-old girl who turned out to be a detective with the Mankato Police Department. He was charged Tuesday in Blue Earth County District Court with soliciting a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct.

He’s scheduled to make an initial appearance on the charge on Thursday. An attorney is not listed in his court file to address the allegations.

According to the criminal complaint, the undercover detective on Aug. 14 logged into an online chat room and listed his gender as an 18-year-old woman.

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