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UCLA Employee Resigns Amid Allegations He Engaged In Sexual Chats With Kids Online

WESTWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A veteran University of California, Los Angeles employee has resigned amid allegations he engaged in inappropriate behavior with children on the Internet, according to CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein.

A website called "Operation Riptide" claims Michael Sondheimer, the associate athletic director at UCLA, attempted to engage children in sexual chats involving humiliation and degradation in a sting where adults posed as minors.

The website quotes Sondheimer as saying: "13? Good", "Love ghetto girls U are so real and so cool" and 'Want to do anything to your hot body."

Goldstein confronted Sondheimer, who was on the computer at his local public library Monday, about the accusations, but he had no response to various questions.

Sondheimer has worked at UCLA for 36 years. Most recently, he was in charge of on-campus recruiting.

In a statement, a university spokesperson said, "Sondheimer was placed on administrative leave June 3, immediately after the university learned of allegations that he had engaged in inappropriate conduct. The allegations were unrelated to his job at UCLA and did not involve students or any other employees."

Sondheimer's attorney had no comment about the situation.

The investigation is ongoing.

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