Baseball trainer charged with child pornography, sexual solicitation of a minor, police say

SEVERN, Md. - A 55‑year‑old Severn man who works as a local baseball trainer is facing child pornography and sexual solicitation charges after investigators say he engaged in illicit online communication with a juvenile girl and exchanged images with her.

What we know:

Police say the investigation began in August 2025 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a CyberTip alerting authorities to the activity.

The suspect, Juan Francisco Palacios‑Velazquez, trained athletes at a facility in Anne Arundel County. Detectives executed a search warrant and seized multiple items of evidence as part of the ongoing investigation. The training facility was notified that Palacios‑Velazquez was under investigation for child‑safety concerns.

Palacios‑Velazquez was charged on Feb. 26 with sexual solicitation of a minor, solicitation of child pornography, and child pornography – permitting sex subject. He was arrested by the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office the next day. He was initially held without bond before being released on his own recognizance on March 2.

What you can do:

Anyone with information about the case or the suspect is asked to contact the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410‑222‑4700.