Minor league coach and wife busted in child-sex sting

An Arkansas minor league football coach and his wife were arrested for allegedly trying to meet an underage girl for sex — saying it was to please the wife who “likes them young.”

Arkansas Punishers head coach Benjamin Coney, 26, and his wife Emily “Grace” Brinley, 25, were busted after traveling more than 200 miles to meet the girl — with lube and other sexual “aids” in their car, according to affidavits obtained by Law & Crime

They were charged with conspiracy to commit rape as well as internet stalking of a minor over twisted online chats they did not realize were actually with an undercover cop.

“I’m into some very f–ked up, sick taboos,” said one of the messages, which were allegedly linked to an account used by both husband and wife as they discussed seeking underage girls at an unspecified “perfect age.”

At one point, the undercover cop realized he was chatting with the man and asked about his wife’s sexual preferences, the affidavit said.

“He responded she likes them young and that she wants to see him ‘f–k’ a prepubescent,” the officer wrote.

The man also fantasized about having his wife perform a sex act on him while he was sexually involved with the child, the affidavits claimed.

The couple both sent verification photos of themselves, including an unrequested one of Brinley exposing her breasts, the document said. It was not clear exactly how young they thought the girl was.

“I want you to feel as secure and safe about this as you can,” Coney allegedly wrote in the message, adding that his wife “REALLY wants to meet up and was wondering if we could come and play today??”

The Little Rock-based coach and his wife were both busted when they arrived more than 200 miles away in Bentonville to be met by the undercover cop instead of the underage girl, the docs said.

In separate interviews, they both admitted to varying degrees of culpability, according to Law & Crime.

However, “Grace stated that she was just trying to be a good wife, and that she was not interested in children,” the affidavits read.

“Grace said that she went along with Ben and repeated stuff she heard Ben say,” she reportedly said of the minor league coach who allegedly also admitted to having child porn on his electronic devices.

She also claimed that her husband once told her during sex that if they ever had a daughter he would abuse her.

“Grace stated she started crying and has refused to have sex since then,” the affidavit says.

Coney, meanwhile, claimed his sick talk was all fantasy and not something he would actually do, the affidavits said.

The two are now charged with internet stalking of a child and conspiracy to commit rape.

They are being held at the Benton County Jail on a $200,000 bond, and their arraignment has been scheduled for Jan. 8.

The Arkansas Punishers announced that Coney has been fired from his position with the team, which includes former high school, college and professional athletes.

“We are aware of the situation involving Ben Coney and have terminated his employment with the team,” it posted on X on Friday.

“As of today, 12/1/2023, Ben Coney is no longer associated at all with the Punishers organization.”

It is unclear whether either Coney or Brinley have retained a lawyer who could speak on their behalf.