Local Hockey Officials Indicted on Child Pornography Related Charges

According to a July 2009 press release issued by United States Attorney John Bales, Travis Blank, 32, and Paul Gove, 28, were indicted on child pornography possession and Internet related transportation charges.  Multiple sources close to the Dr. Pepper Stars Center recreational hockey leagues have confirmed that Travis Blank and Paul Gove worked for an unspecified number of years as officials in recreational hockey programs at area Dr. Pepper Stars Centers.  As officials, Travis Blank and Paul Gove  were contracted through the Metroplex Hockey Officials Association (MHOA) and were not direct employees of the Dr. Pepper Stars Center nor its parent company The Hicks Sports Group.  The Metroplex Hockey Officials Association (MHOA) is the exclusive provider of officials for children, teen, and adult hockey programs at Dr. Pepper Stars Centers throughout the metroplex.

According to a document obtained online, Travis Blank had served in a coaching capacity for a midget division team in 2005.   MHOA did not respond to our email inquires, but the Dallas StarCenters issued the following release:

Dear Patron,
We want to inform you that Dallas Stars management has taken steps to bar two contract referees from all StarCenters following their indictment and arrests on child pornography charges. The charges stem from an investigation by the Plano Police Department, the Collin County Sherriff’s Office, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The following news releases were issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas regarding the indictments against Paul Gove and Travis Blank:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txe/news_release/news/EDTX_GJ_PLANO070909.html
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txe/news_release/news/EDTX_GJ_PLANO101509.htm

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