FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A South Florida tennis coach who is the grandson of tennis legend Bobby Riggs was arrested Tuesday in Broward County on charges of enticement of a minor and production of child pornography, authorities announced Wednesday.
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According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Danny Riggs, 31, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and made his initial court appearance in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday.
Profiles from Cornell and Lynn universities identify Riggs, whose full name is Daniel James Riggs, as “the grandson of former world champion Bobby Riggs,” known for his famous “Battle of the Sexes” against fellow legend Billie Jean King in 1973.
According to a criminal complaint, Riggs began engaging in sexual conversations with a girl through social media while he was her tennis coach. The complaint states that he became her tennis coach in 2020, when she was 15.
“In addition, Riggs is alleged to have sexually abused the minor victim while they traveled internationally, and domestically for tennis training and tournaments,” a news release from the Justice Department stated. “The abuse continued locally within the Southern District of Florida.”
According to prosecutors, Riggs also requested child sexual abuse material from the victim via Snapchat, and created multiple anonymous profiles in an effort to mask his identity.
Authorities said he also told the victim to delete their conversations at times.
According to the complaint, a possible second victim, a 16-year-old girl, was identified through social media records.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Riggs was being held at the Broward Main Jail without bond.
Anyone with information related to the alleged child sexual exploitation/abuse allegations against Riggs is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Riggs has a pre-trial detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 23 at 11 a.m.