MANATEE COUNTY, FL -
A Canadian pro tennis player faces some serious charges for allegedly trying to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.
Deputies say 27-year-old Pierre Duclos met the girl at a public tennis court and soon started sending inappropriate text messages and pictures.
On Friday afternoon, Duclos stood in a jail jumpsuit in front of a Manatee County judge. Not the typical court he's used to.
Duclos is an international tennis player ranked the 610th best in the world.
He currently lives in Bradenton and offers tennis lessons.
Deputies say last week Duclos was giving a lesson at a public tennis court near an elementary school when he met a 13-year-old girl.
Officials say he offered to give her lessons and the two soon began texting by phone and the sheriff's office said Duclos sent lewd messages and photos.
Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bristow said, "The girl was scared, and didn't know what to do. And she confided in a friend and then fortunately the friend and the friend's mother came to us."
On Thursday, a deputy posed as the girl on the phone. Officials say Duclos asked to meet at a coffee shop and then go to his house to have sex.
But when Duclos arrived at the coffee shop, he was arrested. He now faces felony charges.
His neighbors are in shock.
Neighbor Sherry Williams said, "That's scary, because our kids are involved in a lot of things so it goes back to who can you trust?"
He was appointed a public defender.
In court we learned Duclos earns about $2,000 a month.
Duclos said over the past two years, he's trained on and off at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. He said he normally pays his way to international competitions with some help from Canadian sponsors.
In court, Duclos said, "I do not travel [now] because financially I do not have the money."
The judge responded: "Alright, you're not going to travel. I'm not going to let it."
The judge set his bond at $33,000.
Deputies are investigating to see if there could be other victims. And this certainly serves as a warning to parents: know what your children are doing on their cell phones.
