Baltimore County Softball Coach Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Crimes

Baltimore, Maryland - A Baltimore County softball coach pled guilty in federal court, today, to charges connected to sexually abusing a former player who was a minor at the time.

Michael Joseph Pusateri, 59, of Nottingham, pled guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. Pusateri also recently pled guilty to sexual child abuse against the same victim in Baltimore County Circuit Court, resulting in a 10-year sentence.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger; and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

According to the guilty plea, from at least March 2025, through July 2025, Pusateri coerced and enticed a minor victim, who was 16 and 17 years old at the time of the abuse. Pusateri groomed the minor victim through text messages and coerced and enticed the child into sending him sexual images. He then saved the messages and CSAM on his cellphone. Additionally, Pusateri sent the minor victim several pictures of his genitals.

After law enforcement seized his cellphone, BCPD uncovered over 400 phone calls between Pusateri and the minor victim from March 21, through July 25. The minor victim met the Baltimore County softball coach when she was approximately 8 years old. The victim joined Pusateri's club softball team, when she was 11 or 12 years old, where he coached her through the time of the abuse.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.

Pusateri faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, with a maximum of life in federal prison, for coercion and enticement. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentencing is set for Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2027, at 2:30 p.m.

A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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