MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Lesley Coach was arrested for soliciting a teenager for sex at the Benjamin Hooks Library off Poplar Avenue.
Police said Coach asked a 13-year-old girl if she would have sex with him.
“Like there’s no safe place,” said library goer Lisa Wright.
The library is probably one of the last places you would expect something bad to happen.
It’s supposed to be a quiet and peaceful place.
But it’s also a place that sees a lot of traffic.
“It’s a public place, and there’re lots of people coming in and out,” said Wright.
Cops said Coach was at the library Wednesday.
They said he went up to a 13-year-old girl who was sitting on the floor reading a book.
She claimed he asked her if she had a boyfriend.
When she told him no, he asked if he could be her boyfriend for 25 seconds.
The victim again told Coach no, but he persisted.
Police said Coach told the teen he liked her and wanted to have a sexual relationship with her.
Finally, she got up and went to workers for help.
“The suspect was detained by our security then removed from the premises by Memphis Police,” said Stephanie White with the Benjamin Hooks Library.
WREG did some digging and found Coach has been in plenty of trouble before.
His charges ranged from domestic assault and criminal trespassing to soliciting a business.
Library officials said the teen did everything right by reporting Coach, and they do their best to be vigilant.
“We do make certain that security is constantly roaming to see all parts of the library,” said White.
White said there were 12 security guards roaming the four-story building, along with security in the parking lot and surveillance cameras.
White said there were also policies in place that if someone breaks the law at the library they are not allowed back.
For Wright, who was at the library with her grandkids, the news is a teaching moment.
“It just gives you more to talk to the young people more and tell them to be aware of their surroundings,” said Wright.
Coach’s bail has been set at $10,000.
His court date is set for next week.