High school softball coach arrested in child sex crime investigation following girl’s suicide

A Cherry Creek High School softball coach has been arrested as part of a child sex crime investigation connected to a Virginia girl who has died by suicide.

Paul “Pablo” Severtson, 37, was arrested Wednesday after investigators with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children unit executed a search warrant at his home where evidence was seized, according to a sheriff’s news release.

In March, local investigators were contacted by the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia about a juvenile girl who died by suicide, the news release said. Through the course of the Virginia investigation, authorities discovered that the girl had been communicating with an individual, identified as Severtson, on social media messaging apps.

Through his social media accounts, Severtson passed himself off as someone in his early 20s who was into fitness, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators allege Severston was attempting to persuade the Virginia girl to send him nude images and videos of herself, “which due to her age, would be considered child sexual abuse material.”

Severtson, according to the release, allegedly used three accounts on the social media chat app KIK under the names: Tyson Richard, username TYSONHELP; Reggie Collins, username  REGGIEBBC11; and Jordan Styme, username JSTYME8080.

In Colorado, Severtson coached the girls softball team at Cherry Creek High School. He was fired by the Cherry Creek School District on Wednesday.

“CCSD is working with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office to support their investigation,” the district said in a statement.

Severtson was hired by the district in August 2020, including work as a paraprofessional at Cherry Creek High School, West Middle School and at Cherry Creek Elevation. The district has notified families at all three schools where he worked about the arrest.

“His arrest was not connected to his employment with the Cherry Creek School District and did not involve CCSD students,” the statement said.

When hired by Cherry Creek, the distirct’s process, including criminal background and reference checks, did not uncover employment concerns, the statement said.

Severtson also coached the Colorado Styxx girl’s softball club. Prior to coaching in Cherry Creek, he coached at Heritage High School, Littleton High School and Chaparral High School from November 2017 through August 2020.

Severtson was booked into the Arapahoe County jail on Wednesday on investigation of felony criminal solicitation.

Investigators are concerned that their may be additional victims. Anyone with information or concerns is urged to contact the sheriff’s office at 720-874-8477.

If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, round-the-clock support, information and resources for help. Reach the lifeline at 800-273-8255 or see the SuicidePreventionLifeline.org website.