St. Francis High School football coach arrested in prostitution sting

ST. FRANCIS, Minn. (KMSP) - A 39-year-old high school football coach arrested in a prostitution sting is facing very serious allegations.

Tate Hermann, the head football coach at St. Francis High School, is now on leave from the district.

The allegations stem from a police sting in April that was set up at a furnished undercover apartment.

Court documents show it all begins with an ad on Backpage.com. It says the girl is 18 years old, then reads in part, "R U ready to try a real companion who likes it wild?”

Then the texting back and forth begins. 

Hermann says he's 39.

The undercover chat team responded, "I'm fifteen, I hope that's okay."

Hermann says, "Wow, really" and the chat team responds, “Yeah, that okay?"

After arranging a meetup location, Hermann texts and asks what he apparently believes is a fifteen-year-old girl if she would "answer the door naked" and "amaze me the moment you open the door."

When he arrived, he was arrested. Police say he had with him a box of condoms, 120 dollars and a cell phone.

The documents show that in a police interview, Hermann allegedly admits the female did identify herself as fifteen, but he thought she was not being truthful.

Hermann was booked and released into the Maple Grove Jail.

The superintendent from St. Francis Independent School District 15 released the following statement.

"We're aware of the situation. The school district is conducting its own investigation. Mr. Hermann is not performing any services for the district at this time."

Attempts to reach Tate Hermann at his home for comment were unsuccessful.

Hermann was not alone. About ten people were caught in this sting.

He has not been charged. Police say they'll turn the case over to the Hennepin County Attorney in the coming weeks.