An Arkansas couple are in jail after attempting to meet with an extremely young child on the internet for sex, authorities say.
Benjamin Coney, 26, and Emily “Grace” Brinley, 25, stand accused of one count each of internet stalking of a minor and conspiracy to commit rape, according to court documents obtained by Law&Crime.
The male defendant once worked as a minor league football coach in Little Rock — until the “To Catch a Predator”-like sting operation.
Content warning: child sexual abuse references.
According to redacted affidavits of probable cause filed in Benton County, the investigation began on Nov. 19 after an undercover detective received a direct message on an unidentified social media platform from someone with the username “centralsfinest.” Law enforcement allege the username belongs to both Coney and Brinley.
“I’m into some very f–––––-up, sick taboos,” one of those alleged messages reads. “Do you have any [redacted]?”
To which the detective is said to have replied: “I do … Watch yourself … you’ll get banned on here.”
Then, the couple allegedly suggested the conversation continue on an encrypted messaging service — offering three specific options.
“[I]t’d be easy to talk to you there and we can talk about all of your naughtiest most taboo fantasies,” another message allegedly reads.
On Nov. 27, the messaging continued, encrypted, and the couple allegedly explained they preferred a certain “age range” and identified an unknown number as “the perfect age,” according to the affidavit.
“It appeared I was talking to the male, so I asked what about his wife,” the document reads. “He responded that she likes them young, and that she wanted to see him ‘f–––’ a prepubescent [redacted] like [redacted]. He asked if I had ever done anything with my [redacted].”
The affidavits go on to reference additional messages that include increasingly graphic and detailed child sexual abuse.
Later, the affidavits allege that Coney and Brinley provided verification photographs of themselves as requested by the undercover officer — including one photograph with Brinley exposing one of her breasts, which the detective wrote, was not requested.
“I want you to feel as secure and safe about this as you can,” Coney allegedly wrote in one message. “She also REALLY wants to meet up and was wondering if we could come and play today??”
Left: Emily Brinley; Right: Benjamin Coney appear in booking photos. (Benton County Sheriff’s Office)
Then, the three agreed to meet.
During a phone call while the couple were allegedly on their way to meet the undercover member of law enforcement, the detective says they asked Brinley “what she would do if they had a son, and she stated probably nothing,” the affidavits read. But, the detective alleges, Coney “interjected” and said if they had a daughter: “Definitely.”
“The couple arrived at the predetermined meet location and was placed under arrest,” the affidavits read. “During the vehicle inventory, two sexual aids, lube, and the receipt for lube was located.”
In separate interviews, the husband and wife allegedly admitted to varying degrees of culpability.
According to the affidavit, Coney confessed that investigators “would located child sexual abuse material on his devices.” The male defendant allegedly suggested that while “he could talk a big game on the phone, he did not think he would actually do anything in real life” and repeatedly said he changed his mind. When pressed by the detective about specific alleged comments regarding the children he believed to be at the location, Coney allegedly replied that his wife wouldn’t have done anything without him.
Brinley allegedly confirmed her role was secondary.
“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.”
The female defendant went on to say that she just wanted to make her husband happy and suggested she was uncomfortable with how “sketchy” the meeting was. She was also asked about the comment regarding the couple’s own prospective child.
“Grace stated that Ben told her while having sex with her that he wanted to have a baby and if it was a girl he could have sex with her,” the affidavits read. “Grace stated she started crying and has refused to have sex since then.”
As for Coney’s time as a football coach, that’s all over now.
“We are aware of the situation involving Ben Coney and have terminated his employment with the team,” the Punishers wrote in a post on X. “We do not support or allow his actions at all.”
Both Coney and Brinley are being detained in the Benton County jail on $200,000 bond. Their arraignments are slated for Jan. 8.
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