You gave you oral. You gave her oral. Oral. I performed oral on her first on the cheek. Okay. And where would Where did that take place at? Where was it? Probably in the car, but where? And then you did say that she that you had And then what did she do? Like did you On her in her mouth, on her tissue. Behind every successful school trainee is usually an excellent coach. But then there are a few coaches who betray that trust by abusing their trainees in ways to to imagine. How did we get there? And I don't know. And I'm I'm But she's a She's a child. What was the conversation between >> What was the song versus that I shouldn't have, yeah. They're not all song What's a song versus? placed under arrest. And this is going to be as of for It's going to be a offense with them involving a minor. Here are several moments when evil school coaches get caught abusing their trainees. Starting with Damien Conti, a married school teacher whose appetite for the forbidden earns him a 35-year prison sentence following his relationship with his 15-year-old student. If I get in trouble, is there any way for me to protect my family from repercussions? >> Why do you think you'll get in trouble? I just believe I will get in trouble. I have to ask did the relationship become romantic at all? I think that there was feelings that shouldn't have been there. On your end? On both. On both. Did you ejaculate on her in her mouth? On her tissue. Okay. So you're saying you stopped and then ejaculated in this tissue. You didn't ejaculate in her mouth? She uh she had On February the 6th, 2024, officers from the Palm Beach Police Department responded to a scandal that rocked an entire school. A male teacher trusted to guide students had crossed the line into an inappropriate relationship. The secret might have stayed hidden if not for the student's ex-boyfriend whose suspicions led him to her emails where he uncovered the shocking truth that forced law enforcement to step in. I notified dispatch and Uh-huh. and I was able to provide them the location. What's the location? He's got on his phone advising she shared her location with him. What's your name? Damien. Let's move down closer to my car. Do you want to Yeah, if you want to move your car down over there. She's trying to call me. She's trying to call you right now? Take the call? Yeah, let's move down a little closer, okay? So, we're we're over here. >> the way. Thank you for calling us. Thank you for giving us the information you gave us. You said you're under investigation. Is the school investigating you? Or do you have like a criminal case open right now? I don't know if this case is open yet, but the school is investigating. Are you on leave from them? I was suspended today. You were suspended today? Yes. May I ask you a question? If I get in trouble, is there any way for me to protect my family from repercussions? Why do you think you'd get in trouble? I just believe I would get in trouble. Do me a favor, come stand over to my car, please. You don't have any weapons anything on you, right? Anything that's going to stick me or poke me? All right, because I'm going to have you sit down in the back of my car. I'm just to making sure that you don't have any weapons, okay? Wallet, that's all you got? I believe you, I just got to make sure there's nothing on there. Do me a favor. Just sit down in the car for a little bit. I'll give you some more information, talk to you in a minute, okay? I don't know what I got right now, but that's what that's where we're at, okay? Is he getting antsy or what? No, I just don't want him to go anywhere or start doing stuff off the phone. So, this is what he told me. Starts off with she's just a friend. I'm thinking the whole time, I know we all are, this is an adult we're dealing with, right? Right, that's what I thought it was in the first tip. So, now my red flags are going off, and that's why I got more than enough reasonable suspicion. I'm going to put him in the back of the car. We're just going to have We're going to have him come more questions for you in a minute, okay? We just need to kind of get to the bottom of a few things, okay? >> That's it. All right. You're not in trouble as of this minute, but we got to find out what's going on, all right? Damien's walls were closing in on him. Every lie, every mask had led him to this point. Soon a female deputy arrived at the scene with well-crafted questions for a mind that no longer had peace. Hi, how you doing? I'm Deputy Diaz, I'm with the Sheriff's Office. Um, I just wanted to confirm a few things. Obviously, you know, with situations like this, we care for the students. You seem to also care for her quite a bit. So, you know, she's okay. She's en route to the hospital, but we wouldn't have been able to find her without you. So, I wanted to say thank you for that, okay? For our purposes, because these kinds of situations are very serious, you know, God forbid it could have led to something else. I just need to confirm a few things on your end. Is she a student of yours? Okay, what do you teach? I teach AP English. AP English okay. So, I know you work with the school board. I'm kind of new to the area, so you have to kind of explain it to me. I'm from up north. So, you work for the public school or private school? It's Okay, and right? How long have you worked there? This is my second year. Okay, and where did you work previously? I worked at Palm Beach Atlantic Okay, very nice. And how long have you been teaching? I believe this is my sixth year. Okay, it's not easy. I know I couldn't do it. Okay, and can you tell us a little bit about her? Very intelligent, bright future ahead of her, top 20 in her class. And so, she kind of confided in you? Yes. Okay, very intelligent young girl, okay. Prior to, you know, today's incident, has she I need You said she's confided in you about different things. Just out of curiosity, and I mean, I get it. Like I said, I'm not a teacher, but you had her personal number and she had yours. So, can you explain that a little to me? Several of my students have over the years. Okay. Yeah. Some of them just become really very close. Okay, that makes sense. And so, I'm assuming, especially if they're intrigued and they're interested in the course work and all things like that, you know, you have a built interest, they have a built interest in the subject, okay? At what point did you guys exchange contacts? Around September or October. Okay, great. And what were some of the things that you guys talked about? Did she tell you where she wanted to go to school? She just said she wanted to go in state. She wanted to go to medical school. Okay, okay. All right, so fast forward to today. This seems a little bit too vague, so I kind of want to get into the nitty-gritty. What specifically, cuz this is a serious thing. People noticed that her and I were close. So, specifically, when these students said to her that they noticed that you and her were close, do you remember off the top of your head, you know, what it was that they were saying? I kind of want to stay there a little bit. What What do you think became out of control? And maybe it's not your fault, right? I know you're putting a lot of blame on yourself, but let's say it wasn't your fault. What became out of control? >> That's definitely glorified. All right. And as far as, you know, maybe some of the things that you said or did, is there anything that you think that led to that or contributed to that? No, her and I always had a good a good bond. A good bond, okay. Did you guys meet up after school? Every now and then I would like stop by her do my grocery shopping and say hi. Did you guys meet anywhere else besides her job? Only once or twice. Okay, that's fine. Once or twice. And where was that at? Was it like at a public place, private place, where? It was at a like a shopping center. Was that a park? Okay. And uh what did you guys do at the park? >> Okay. I get it. This is kind of uncomfortable, but you know, I'm just curious. I have to ask. Did the relationship become romantic at all? I think that there was feelings that shouldn't have been. On your end? On both. On both. The female deputy found his Achilles' heel with ease. A clear sign that guilt had already taken its toll before the confrontation even began. But that didn't erase what he had done. If anything, it marked the start of a journey that his evil desire could no longer escape. >> My hands are full. Do me a favor. If you uh take your foot out first, I'm going to help you out, okay? Just watch your head. All right. Turn around towards the car. Perfect. Hang out right there for a second. We're going to go right this way to that door. And then we're going to make this first right. Let me get us in there. Do me a favor to sit in that chair for me, and I'm going to come back in and I'm like Remember what I told you I was going to read you the cuffs up front? Okay, we'll take care of that, okay? Just give me a second to put all this stuff down, okay? She gave you her She gave her a work work shirt. Okay. And where would Where did that take place at? Where was it? Oh, it was in the car, but where? Do you know Do you remember where? Okay. And And you did say that she that you ejaculated, and then did she do? Like did you ejaculate on her, in her mouth, on her t-shirt? Okay, so you're saying you stopped and then ejaculated in a tissue, you didn't ejaculate in her mouth? So did what she you ejaculated in her mouth and then she spit it out? What's that? Okay, did she like Did I'm saying like did she masturbate you to to ejaculate at the end? All right. Things have taken a long dark road between Damian and his 15-year-old victim, but none of it would have come to light if the victim's ex hadn't decided to explore further after noticing strange and alarming signs. I'm going to let's go out of school. Okay, so the main parties are me and my ex The victim. And then Damian Conti, our AP language arts teacher. She's my ex, right? Okay. And so I said this we broke up around September. And then this I can't confirm at the time. I saw them getting close. And then I made note of that and like me and my friends we also noticed that. And so we were thinking like that's kind of weird. So there's that and then more people started noticing it and then rumors started spreading. I don't know the validity of all of them. With everything else that's come up, maybe some of them are true. I cannot confirm. We got into an argument me and my ex I want to say late Decemberish cuz she was blaming me for the rumors even though I wasn't doing all that. I can confirm that. I was not out make all these like accusations against her cuz half of them I'd never even heard before. Fast forward to last night. She was popping off on me just like she was in December. What do you mean by that? Like like she was like getting angry at me. She wanted to basically cut ties between us two. So you guys still had a friendship of some sort It was very shaky. Like I tried to like distance myself from her around this time. A while back like when we were together she added her email to my phone. I still get like notifications and emails and whatnot from her thingy cuz she never removed it for whatever reason. I asked her, "Why'd you unfollow me on both of those accounts, but you followed me on this other account which I'm pretty sure it was like a secret account cuz she didn't want anyone to know about it." When I brought it up to her she claimed that it wasn't hers at all. Basically after that she blocked me. I tried to try messaging. So fast forward to today morning. She was like talking smack about me to other people cuz I'm 99% sure she was. She was talking smack about me, right? I saw one curious message and then I saw another one. I was aware at the time I was aware a while ago actually. She added our teacher and I'm just shocked. And then >> Are you reading these messages? >> I read a couple of them and then I just was like heck. It was like a little thingy where you can just look at every image that was sent. I saw pretty bad images of her and the of her and the teacher and what not. Did you share these pictures with somebody else? >> I did. My girlfriend now. Okay. And anyone of authority or anything? The first person I brought it up to was my math teacher. My first period teacher. This was me recording stuff on her account with the teacher in question. What looks like their initials. D for Damian, his name. This one is the teacher, Damian Conti. And this was in a group chat that those three were in. And so, morning, love you, mostly me as Polja, my wife. If I remember correctly, my Spanish is kind of rusty. I love you more, which is another word for love. Morning, I'm driving to you now. >> That was him talking? Or the friend? >> Yeah. Yeah, that was him talking. That was on what day? >> I don't have like all the dates for all these cuz this is me going through everything. Cuz I I I screenshot all these within like 40 minutes. You have back up. Fresh hands basically marry now. That's how it works. Who is married for better for worse. We there for each other. I love you. You. Said that to each other. >> What did you do after you started finding out this stuff? >> I was first in shock. I was wondering what I should do and then I eventually went up to my teacher. I was like, "If I was to report this, what would I do?" We talked to another teacher about it. Went to the guidance counselor and the guidance counselor went to like the vice principal and the principal and then I talked to the school officer. >> Do you have a school officer there all the time? I think so. For my AP language arts teacher, he talks like a kid. Mind you, this man has a wife and two kids I think. Anything that you ever witnessed yourself? Well, not during lunch like one one-on-one. They just be stuck together alone. Another student was brought in to verify the claims with investigators hoping to connect the dots and possibly uncover secrets that had already been buried. There was some conversation with you. Remember that? Tell me about it. There would be conversations, but it wouldn't be like but be like friendly. Some of them might have been some of the words he used. Some of the words he used, yes. It wasn't Well, for me, I wouldn't mean it for real. Did he ever ask to take you out? No. It was one time, but like in a group chat, but like as if like teacher like graduation, like hanging out with friends, like to take up me personally. He would never ask me because I'm not allowed to go out. All right, so he never asked you. No. Did he ever buy you a gift? One gift for Christmas. What did he buy? Uh Ulta gift card. Ulta. How much? Did you buy him anything? No. Did he ask for any favors from you? Sexual favors? No. And being a close friend, lot of times close friends [ __ ] with each other. And I'm going to ask about this. All the stuff that she said she did with him. Stuff he said he did. She did with him. >> She never told you that. And have you ever done anything sexual with him? No. Have you ever hugged him? I hugged him once. Okay, when would that be? In the classroom when I was leaving to say bye. Was that like what kind of hug? You have to explain it. Like just like a simple friendly hug and then that's it. Something like you'd hug your mother? Like quick hug. Like how would I would hug. Where would his hands be? On my shoulder. Like here. Any kisses? No. He would do um kisses but like um for like bye-bye, but not like physical kiss. No. These past few days when is the rumors started getting worse and like I could see that it was like worries like that. And that was via text, via phone calls, or or Instagram? >> Instagram. I didn't have any other contact but Instagram with him. I saw her walk in, dark hair, in the class, and then walk out. And then I could tell that something was serious, so I text him Instagram and said if she was okay. From what I've known today, she hasn't responded. But you privately conversation-wise, did he ever have any kind of talk about romance, any kind of relationship? With who? Him. No. Did he ever ask you out to go somewhere? No. He only asked if I could go to the Valentine's dance in our school for next week, so it would be a month, but I told him no, and then he asked if I could convince my mom, but I said no because my mom doesn't allow me anywhere else, especially since the school is not close from where I live. So, like, she was like, "No school dances this year and no parties till like my senior year, so I could save up for that." Like, the sexual part, I didn't personally know that they had relationships. I only know they were really close friends. >> Do you Do you think it's odd to have a close relationship being 16 and somebody being 35? >> Yeah, cuz that's double her age. Damien had let his sinister urges poison everything he had built, and as if that wasn't enough, a phone call with his wife made one thing painfully clear. Whatever he thought he had gained was nothing compared to what he had lost. Hello? Damien, thank god. Are you okay? They took away all my things. I know, I know. It's It's been hard to to get in contact. Are Are you okay? They haven't given me my medicine yet, and Okay. And listen listen very carefully. Have you talked Have you talked to Lily, the attorney? Yes, yes, I did. I can't talk about much, but listen to I know, I know. Hey, listen, we let's be smart about this conversation, okay? I I've been in contact with Lily. I've been in contact with the detectives. Your uncle is driving down from Georgia this weekend. He's going to try to come see you. I'm going to try to come see you as soon as possible. We are all okay, and we all are supporting you, okay? That's first thing's first, okay? I need to deactivate all your accounts. Is Is there anything like Is TikTok on there and Instagram? I deleted my Instagram, I think. Okay. Okay, listen, last thing. I started the paperwork for divorce, okay? Damien, this is not the first time we've talked about this. This is what you wanted, okay? Remember? I know what I did. No, please, no. Steph, please listen to me. Please, please let me talk. I was confused because of all the trauma, and I was confused because he kept comparing you to my mother. You know that's all that I want, you and the babies. That's the only thing I need to think about without you got your phone. Listen, listen. I am not taking the kids away from you, okay? Okay. I know. I know. I want to go through the divorce process, okay? If If down the road we can have a relationship like that, we can, but for right now, I I'm requesting a divorce and I'm willing to continue to have a relationship with you for the sake of our children. Do you understand? You know, you told me a long time ago that you stopped that you were not in love with me anymore, okay? Okay. Okay. Then then there will be time for that. But the reason I'm asking you for this right now is because I need to have access to all of our assets to protect us and make sure that our children are protected for the immediate future, okay? For whatever the consequences that you face, all of our assets are at risk. But right now, I'm asking for this divorce. I'm going to file it myself because we can't afford attorneys. And if you just accept it uncontested, then this will go a lot smoother and this is the first step to rebuilding our future. I don't I wanted to give you a warning and hopefully that, you know, we can be on the same page of this for when the the paperwork gets to you, okay? I know. We're We're We're here for you, okay? You're safe and safe, okay? Okay. Okay. Be strong, okay? We'll see you soon. Bye. In the end, he was charged with unlawful intimate acts and three counts of intimate offenses against a student by an authority figure. In July 2025, he was handed 35 years behind bars. Damien was awful, but still he had nothing on James Edward Ford III, a high school assistant coach who was trusted to guide and protect young female athletes, but instead he crossed the line and exploited the very people he was supposed to safeguard. I've been a coach for 5 years and it's like no stuff whatsoever. Okay. Um So, if a kid wants to kiss like a kid I'll let them kiss, but Um you all right with Did she offer to do something to you? She and Okay. Did she perform oral on you? She tried. She almost On January the 17th, 2025, police arrested James Edward Ford III, but before his arrest, just a week earlier, a student had come forward about a suspected inappropriate relationship and the school resource officer had taken notice. At the time, James was the assistant football coach at Westport High School in Ocala, Florida and the allegations had already sent shockwaves throughout the community. The real shocker came out of the interrogation room. All right, so why do you think you're here today? My relationship with some of the girls is Okay, what does that look like? From the outside from the outside, you would think there's weird stuff going on, but I've been a coach for 5 years and it's like I'm a they can confide in me as well as the boys. Okay. Like excuse me, like it looks weird, but like they come to me with problems and you know, just confide in cuz I'm easy to talk to and Sure. >> boys do it too and I I'm there for them basically. How long have you been coaching out there? This is my fifth year. Fifth year? Okay, so you've been out there for a long time. Seen a lot of kids coming and going. Yes. Okay. And do you do that full-time or do you do something else? >> No, I work. I I work for the city of Ocala. I drive a garbage truck. Okay, how long have you been doing that? 5 years, 6 5 years. >> Okay. Okay, so I know you said you were here you believe you're here because of some inappropriate possibly people think is inappropriate with the girls. Is there any girls in particular? Yes, there's Well, am I allowed to say the name cuz I don't want Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It's Okay. Okay. And then are these girls do they How do you How do you I mean cuz I know you said football. Are they do you guys have like a football like your girls like a flag football One of the girls got a football team. One of the girls plays flag. She also plays tackle football. Okay. Wow. Yeah. So it's like It just I've been a father figure like I lost her father. Okay. And even her grandmother I'm really close to her grandmother and all she calls me all the time cuz I coach her with me and some other coaches I've done for I've been there stuff being that role. And like our previous head coach did ask do you guys have to worry about that? And I was like coach like no it's like she lost her dad. He's like a real father figure to the school. And it's just like outside looking in you would think cuz it's weird cuz that's not my child. I have a son that goes Oh okay. And even the kids some of the kids say it's that's coach Ford's other oldest daughter. So it's like that. And that's referring to Okay. And how about She's a football player. She comes to me with her problems and She just got to fly from the flag football. So like she calls me uncle and all this well they all this stuff and call me uncle they'll call me uncle. And like when they have problems they'll come to me I try to do them the right path. Now I talk to them and give it to them like they're all my kids. Right. So Yeah cuz it's tough out here. Yeah and I don't want to sugarcoat nothing to be soft on them cuz I don't want to see them get taken advantage of and Right. >> So we do kind of talk and So if some kids do hear us talking to them it's kind of how I would talk to my own kids. Okay. And then how about Same with I'm the same as them. Same. Okay. Just kind of that father figure. >> Well no no her dad's in our lives it's just I'm just a father figure. >> Okay. Who she can come confide in. Okay. >> Like if they have problems. And then have Have these girls been at the school and then since you've been there or did they come later on? What did that look like? Like have you had interaction with them for you know four three four years or >> them in Okay. Yeah. So just at at the actual school itself. >> Yeah. And the boys are boys are the same Like, I have one player he says I'm more of a dad to him than his own dad. Okay. And so, it's just like I'm mentoring, basically. Well, I I thought I was doing right, but >> Yeah. And I know so, I know like when you have teams and stuff, you have to keep in contact with your players and things like that. Do you communicate with these girls at all on, you know, like a cell phone or is it like a group app or >> No, they'll text me. Coach Ford, I need uh or like little problems or can I talk to them about this? Can they Can I have them out with this or this and that or stuff like that. Soto fired here trying to play the role of mentor and also pretended to be a father figure, but he didn't realize the officers were not playing around. They already had more on him than he ever expected. So, you basically you have the the teams' contact numbers, they have yours, and it's just general conversation back and forth. Okay. At any point in time has there ever been And you know, it's like we know these, you know, girls these days. Is there any time when any of this conversation maybe went a little differently than it should or something that might not be appropriate? >> look at it and don't know the ends of it, you would think that they'll come hug me and they'll be up under me and stuff like that. So, it looks weird cuz the trainer say something and but it but it's not like that. Okay. And then how about on the text? Anything on that end that you've had to maybe shut down or No, no, no. something? Nothing's popped up on their end or on your end? Nope. Okay. All right. Um So, when When would you say you started communicating with any of these girls over the over text? Just about sports or whatever. Okay. Um With the football team, we have everyone's number. So, we have group texts and I have a text, "Hey, I need you to do this." Uh Okay. >> Everyone's numbers they want or, you know, stuff like that. Right. And basically, that's how it was. And then with the flag with the girls, I coach flag football the girls. Okay. But it's basically the girls basketball team, which most of them have my number also. Okay. And like they'll text me cuz I'm sorry, I cut you off. >> No, you're good. They'll text me like, "Coach, what winners flag starts?" So I text them the schedule. "Practice starts this day." You know, whatever like that. Okay. And I know you said um you felt like people at school maybe felt a different way. When did you get knowledge that something was maybe being said? Well, last year coach head coach asked did he have to worry about And I was like, "No, there's No, there's fine." >> Okay. And the trainer, she was kind of skeptical. Now, what about this week? What happened this week? >> I don't know. It just I'm there. They come, they hug me. Mhm. Like normal and that's it. When did you find out something was going on this week with the I got I got I got I got a call Monday night, Tuesday Monday Tuesday. Tuesday? Okay, was that from Uh the new head coach. The head coach? Okay. And how did that conversation >> said that they're doing an investigation, which was on the girls. I'm like, "What do you mean? Like I've been like this with And she said they're doing an investigation. Okay. >> Like something was said, somebody went back and said they're not comfortable around me from something I said, but how we talk to them just like we talk to our kids. So I don't know if another student probably heard it, thought it was inappropriate and they weren't comfortable or or the boys maybe like the girls and saw I mean, I don't know. Not sure. So I want to talk a little bit about Okay. So dealing with her, is there any reason why she might think that you're something more than a coach to her? Uncle, maybe. Just an uncle? Okay. And when you say uncle, what does that What does that look like for her? Like how do you feel like an uncle or how would she feel like you're an uncle to her? >> She'll hug me, come from the side, hug me and like if she have problems with boys or whatever cuz Okay. They've called me plenty times about trouble with boys. I don't want to see them get taken advantage of Sure. or just out doing stuff. It is what it is and you know, just took get into that of. Okay. Basically. Okay. Is has there ever been anything on your end that would lead me to believe that you were acting as something other than a family member or mentor as you describe yourself? Like for Christmas I bought them all Christmas. Okay. Asked them what they wanted cuz like and like I bought them what I didn't get them everything on the list what they wanted but I told them you know what I'm saying, you know. Sure. I'll get them what they wanted. Her parents didn't want to go to her to one of camp in Orlando. Who who's that? Okay. I went with her to the football camp, talked to the coaches for them. And place them, you know, like stuff like that. Okay. And have you ever sent any of them money? I know you said you bought gifts and things like >> I mean they'll call How about money-wise? >> Yes, if they got borrowed like have $10 for food or $20 for this or $50 for this or, you know, for food basically. Okay. I'm like, yeah, I got y'all food. Cuz that's what we do. I feed. I don't have no problem with feeding y'all when you're hungry. Yeah, I know, absolutely. And how would that look? Like was that Did you give them cash or was it like cash apps? Okay. I rarely carry cash on me. Okay. Yeah, I don't think anybody does anymore. >> Yeah, I don't know. I don't even know the last time I even had cash on me. Okay. The officers could already see how he had twisted the story to look like a saint. That was expected from a man with a dead conscience, but unlike his conscience, his past was very much alive and the officers had the facts to prove it. >> But like I said, you know, I wanted to talk a little bit about Okay, cuz there's just some concerns that are go that people have, okay? I can see why. Okay. And that's what I was just kind of trying to get from you. Why so much with more than anyone else? Why so much concern? >> I well She's the one like if I'm there she'll come up and hug and stay around. I don't see I have to go to the weight room. Okay. But yeah, she's she she always comes up, hugs me, asks how I'm doing, we talk whatever and same once she is there working out or whatever, she's going to stop what she's doing, come hug me, and ask how I'm doing. Has there ever been anything someone would consider inappropriate that's happened between you and her? Between you and her? Maybe how I like when we hug like she'll hug and I guess like from Any type of kissing or anything like that that someone might see? Okay. Um I guess how we talk to them, I guess, basically if someone heard it. Okay. And that's why we're here. Um and like I said, Mr. Ford, I appreciate you speaking with me. Okay. Right? Um and when I talk with people I always, you know, I'm I want to be honest cuz I'm always looking for honesty, right? And I know right now you're not quite being 100% honest with me. >> I I mean Talk to me. We're here for a reason. I know. It It looks like like we never I mean I've never done nothing with her. Okay. Now, when you say nothing with her, you mean? No stuff whatsoever. Okay. Um hug, like kiss on the cheek, like I kiss all of them on the cheek. Like hug, you all right? Mhm. That's that. Okay. So, you don't think there's going to be anything or evidence of anything any different? Far as I mean We probably may text me, probably text me a little more. She'll ask how I'm doing like how she act like I act all of them. Like yeah, you good, I check on them. Okay. Or whatever. Do you ever let anyone else use your cell phone? Oh yeah, I let kids on my phone all the time. Okay. >> Yes. All right. Um so, and that's what I want to talk a little bit about, okay? >> on my phone all the time. So. Um is your phone password protected? Kissing a student didn't look like affection. It looked like a predator normalizing a total lack of boundaries by trying to seem harmless. The officers could already tell he wasn't going to give up answers easily. It was time for the curveball question. Okay. So, like when you're at school, you say you unlock your phone and you'll hand it to the kids to use. Okay. Is there any reason why maybe they might pretend to be you? It's a few boys like it. Mhm. And like they be saying like "Hey, she always run goes forward." Like why do all the girls always run goes forward? Yeah. Do any of these kids ever take your phone home at night time? >> Okay. So, that would be like a school hour, typical day texts. Okay. So, you know there's text messages that might between you and her. It is not It's not I take the Like I take the all the girls. Like I take the all the girls. We have to talk about that. Okay, that's fine. That's why we're here. >> Okay. I'm not And I'm not trying to trick you up. I'm none of that, okay? >> honest with you. And I And I think you know where we're at. Mhm. Yeah. And I just want to know how we How did we get there? And I don't know. And I'm I'm >> a Cuz she's a child. >> I'll be as transparent with you. Yeah. I'll be as transparent like I don't want to say it like I help some with her mother's consent, I helped them pay for her to get an abortion. Like stuff I shouldn't be doing. Like I'm just too nice. And That's very nice. You get what I'm saying? >> put yourself in Yes. >> predicaments. And that's kind of weird. You've gotten yourself into a predicament. Yes. And I've never been in no trouble whatsoever. 43 years of no trouble. Cuz I I have all of the text messages >> between you and starting from February of last year. Okay. You and I both know what's in those text messages. >> The police revealed an interview with the alleged victim uncovered even more details, like the fact that they had been texting for about a year. And that wasn't even the worst of it. Yeah. Like I would send her songs and verses and >> Okay. Yeah. And what else? Just like I've never sent no pictures. Well, I mean No. No. No. >> Well, you have. I'm Well, like my birthday stuff and like I sent all the kids stuff like that, but nothing explicit. Okay. Excuse me. Yeah. Take your time. If you need to take a drink, you can. >> Oh, I'm good, that's fine. Okay. What about the explicit conversations between you >> Oh, the song verses that I shouldn't have, yeah. Well, not all song verses. But listen, I know some songs. Okay? Yes, ma'am. And they're not all song verses, are they? Not all of them. Okay. So, talking about you know, wanting to taste her and Well, that was a song verse on Trick Daddy. So. Okay. And and she replied with a no, but I can Mhm. Yeah, I just started laughing. But yes, I shouldn't say some of the stuff I'm saying, like even at the school I shouldn't be saying some of the stuff I've been saying because I'm just so comfortable around them. Yeah. And just And what about I cuz I think you developed some feelings for her. That's what it looks like. It's like I said, from the outside >> In the text, right? >> From the outside in. From looking at outside >> you're going to take care of her, she's your baby girl. >> I call all of them my baby girls. Like Star was baby girl, Devon was baby girl. It's just something I say. Okay. I wanted to talk to you about an incident that occurred at the outside of the Waffle House. Are you talking about What can you tell me about that? She told me where she was. I went out to make sure she was okay. Okay. And birthday. That's how I know there was no problem is when I said, "You good, okay?" And whatever. We talked for a little bit and she left. Then I went out and she got home. I said, "Are you good? You okay? You want to finish this tomorrow?" She said, "No." Okay. So, during that text message, can you take yourself back to that text message to where she to where you you eventually y'all met up you ended up driving to the Waffle House after telling her to go to the Waffle House, is that No, she told well, I think yeah. Okay. So, I think you were at the Wawa and then she was somewhere else. So, y'all had probably like just left school or something like that again, maybe >> was a birthday dinner. A birthday dinner, okay. So, where was she at at the Waffle House? Like when y'all met? Oh, she was parked by the sign. Okay. Did she stay in her car or something like that? >> talked. Okay. Did she get into your truck? Well, no. She opened the door and there like opened the door Okay. I was sitting like this and got up, came around, talked, gave her a hug and Okay. That's all. I'm asking you to be honest. I'm being honest. I mean, we didn't do anything. Did she offer to do something to you? She didn't Not until that uh saying it but I'm Mhm. She didn't just come out and say whatever but you can tell like you know what I'm saying? You got to read between the lines. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, at that time in that incident, okay, did she perform oral on you? She tried. She almost did. She almost did? What does that look like? Walk me Walk me through the steps. >> She She said, "Okay, let me uh start it." And no. Okay. So, would no like did the act begin and then it was >> It starts to begin but then I have to Yeah, cuz it's I'm like, "You're a child." You stopped it. Yes. Okay. And is that would you say that's the only conduct that >> That was Yes. you had with her? Yes. Okay. And then I know we had talked a little bit before about was there some kissing and stuff maybe one time like in the locker room? No. Something happened with Locker room We're never alone with those girls in the locker rooms. Okay. There's always a coach there with us. Always somebody The victim added that the locker room, which James insisted was never isolated, had actually been a place where they kissed completely undisturbed. James couldn't stop worrying about how much the detectives already knew because no matter how he tried to spin it, he was in serious trouble. I know where this is going with the little I'm going to get booked for. You are under arrest at this point. And this is going to be as of for It's going to be a sex offense with a involving a minor. It's a minor, so I have to register and all that now. But it's going to depend on where it all goes. But potentially, yes, sir. Yeah, I'm not going to lie to you. >> that's fine. Um what about my job? Would it be like I'm going to be be booked all weekend, right? You're So, you'll go in, you'll have a no bond cuz it's a no it's a no bond initially, but when you see the judge in the morning at first appearance, the judge will give you a bond at that time. And I don't know if you have Well, no, my mother will Yeah, she will. Now, will you all release all this information to her or is it something I will tell her? I think you should tell her. Okay. Yeah, I'm not going to tell your mom. You're an adult. Yeah. So, you're you know, you're uh You got it. Your business is your business, right? It's not for me to tell you know, it's not like you're a child and I'm going to report something to her. >> these girls get in any kind of trouble any kind of way? What do you think they should get in trouble for? Talk to me about that. Basically being inappropriate with me. Okay. >> And being too close. I don't I mean No, you're her dad, right? >> Yes. That's the bad thing. >> dad. >> Yes. So, let me ask you this. You said you have a son and he's same age? 17. 17. So, if let's role reverse, okay? Uh and I'm being I just want you to kind of see it from a different point of view. Uh-huh. Would you want your son Do you think that your son should be held accountable for behaviors when there's an adult that clearly had a lapse of judgment as an adult and in my eyes took a took advantage of a child? It's interesting. Right? So, would it be fair for them to get into trouble? I mean, not I really. Or should have Mr. Ford said I can't This isn't This isn't right. >> isn't right. I shouldn't do this. Yeah. Right? You're a mentor. You told me you're a mentor for kids. >> Yep. That's why I'm just wondering what happened. I mean, nice young man, you got a good job. And that's what I'm afraid of, losing everything. >> lot of women out here. Yeah, but that's what I'm afraid of, losing everything. Yeah. Which is could and possibly be what might happen. I mean, I don't know. Yeah. I mean, I I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. It's not not a good situation for the man. Yeah, it's not with kids. No. And I've been coaching at this for years. Yeah. So, I know we have your I'm going to end up writing a search warrant on your cell phone. Okay. Um, am I going to find anything else with No. any any other juveniles, minors? No. Nothing else like that going to be anywhere? I can this is the way that search warrant will look like. Okay. So, you want to give consent to search your phone? I can't say yes and tell you to, but I'm not your power. Oh, I mean, you you if you want to sign a consent form, we can sign a consent form and we can do that. If not, we just write a search warrant on it and go from there. And that will take how long? It depends. It depends on how much data is on your phone. Um, right now it'll be seized as evidence anyway. So, So, I'll find out later. No question. So, if I get bailed out tomorrow, I'm not able to take my phone. No, sir. No. So, how would Yeah, I kind of want What happens is that Yeah, and we'll do this. I'll just write a search warrant on it. That way it's easier. It's you know, we'll we'll get it knocked out that way. Um, cuz it will be held anyway case cuz it's it's evidentiary, so we can't get rid of it. Cuz it like I said, those text messages obviously were coming from your cell phone. From me, yeah. Yeah, from you to her. So, that's just part of the case and that's kind of where we're at right now. James had lost the game he never should have started, but that was typical for his type. Selfish interests always came first, even when his attempts at damage control sounded like barking into the wind. Okay. Do you need anything right now? Excuse me. Okay. Okay. No question. Am I able to call my mother or am I able to call her? Yeah, you can call your mom. And if you want, I'll bring my phone in and put it on speakerphone and you can call mom here. It's up to you. Or you can call her at the jail. I mean, am I able to call my other places? Yeah. Yeah, I'll let you call. Think about it. >> Oh, yeah. Well, I want to call the I want to talk to her. Sure. Over the phone to tell her. >> Understandable. I can I don't want to call her. I don't want to talk to my mom, too, so it's okay. Yes. Yes, I would I would love to call her. Okay. All right, I'll be right back. James was relieved of his duties almost immediately after his arrest and banned from setting foot on the school grounds, but for him, that was just the tip of the iceberg compared to what was coming next. I'm honest with you and I want you to be honest with me. You know, where we're at and unfortunately, this is Where is at? >> Where is at. Yeah. And um hopefully, you know, Now, I have a question like I want to get booked. Now, am I registered as a Am I registered as a So, that would be after like if if there's any type of conviction or something like that. >> date. Could it potentially Well, that would be like at the end when it's over. >> is the ending? I'm sorry. No, no, that's okay. So, when the when the case commences, so when the case ends, when it's over. So, whether the state decides to, you know, move forward, um file the charges, depending on what you if they offer you a plea deal, if you decide you want to have your day in trial, you take it to trial. Ah. Um at the very end Am I going to be on TV? Yeah, is when they would decide are you going to be a registered um >> So, what am I What is what are What are they called? So, you're going to be um charged with unlawful activity with a minor. Okay. Um you're going to be charged with the uh authority figure cuz you were in authority figure role as a coach at the school. Um you're also going to be charged with uh travel to meet a minor for on the Oh, this is going to be on mugshot? It's going to be unlisted on your charges. Yes. >> That was so much. Wow. And then misuse of the two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. Got you. Yeah. Oh, so this is a felony? They're all felonies. They're all Damn, y'all might lose my job. But I mean, I ain't like I'm not doing anything like she's my mother's not from my work. I'm not worried about Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, based like I said, you know, just based off of everything that we have, everything we have in the phone, the statements, you know, the school conduct Yes. and activity with each other, you know, it's, you know, this is where we're This is where we are. In the end, James was charged with unlawful intimate activity, offenses against students by an authority figure, traveling to meet for illegal intimate conduct, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. James was despicable, just like Vigil And D Haiti, who was arrested at his home after evidence revealed that instead of coaching and building futures, he'd been exploiting the very athletes he was meant to uplift in the most awful of ways. Stand still for a second. Hang on one second. Hang on one second. Listen, I got to I got to put them behind your back, but I got these, okay? And they're bigger, so they'll fit your wrist. So, Vigil And, your husband, um I'll let him explain, okay? Hang on one second. Hey, Kel. Um apparently, they're going to take me to Orange County jail. On March the 3rd, 2022, just before noon, justice finally caught up with an unrepentant coach. The Winter Garden Police Department executed a search warrant on Vigil And D Haiti, a cheerleading coach in Central Florida, whose past misdeeds had come back to haunt him at the peak of his life. >> Sorry, babe. Can I be in front of me? Can I Can I have you in front of me? We'll see. But usually no. Okay. We'll I'll do what I can. I'm doing everything I can to make you comfortable. Give me Give me a second. I got I got something that that might work. Can we walk over there to the Yeah, let's walk over here. Go Go ahead and here. Come here. Come here. Come here. Come here. Take them off. Take them off. Come here. Come here. Come here. Come here. Here. Come here. Let's go over Come over here to my car. Come over here to my car. So I'm not standing in the middle of the road. I'll grab Just stand still for a second. Hang on one second. Hang on one second. Do you have any type of anxiety or anything like that? No? Okay. Come here. Come here. I got my phone in my my um We got We got your We got your phone. And my keys in my pocket. Here. You can sit Lean up against that. So I'm going to share some some information with you, all right? You're not handcuffed right now. I want you to remain calm and be cool, okay? There's an outstanding warrant for your for your arrest. It's out of Lake County. Okay? So your peace is not with us. All right? I understand Sergeant House and you have a relationship. Okay, we want to maintain professionalism and respect. Okay, but we still have a job to do. Okay? So what we're going to do is we're going to get you secured. We're going to confirm the warrant. Okay? We will provide all the information with you. Okay? And we will be, like I said, cordial, respectful, and mindful. Okay? If you feel like you're going to pass out, or if if things are going to become too overwhelming for you, you need to relay that to me, okay? Because your well-being, at the end of the day, is still a priority. I will make sure we get you evaluated so nothing uh escalates from there, okay? But if you take a look, everyone else here is being chill. Okay? So you know >> a violent person. We're not saying you are. What I'm What makes me concerned was your reaction, okay? I don't want you to have a panic attack. Okay? That's what I don't want, because stress is very, very powerful. I don't want to see that happen. Do you understand? Yes, sir. Okay. It's probably my wife calling. All right. Here's what we're going to do for now. Where's his phone at? Where's his phone at? You want Can you talk Can you talk to her on that? >> Yeah. Talk to her on that. Hey, Kells. Hey, I'm I'm with Jerry. Um so you know how So I'll call you back. Okay? Okay. My phone has been in and out of service here the last Okay. Um if you call back in 2 Okay. She They said we can call you back in a few minutes. Okay. His tears signaled at least two things. Maybe he was being targeted unfairly, or perhaps he knew his moment of reckoning had arrived. Either way, the officers understood one hard truth. Tears didn't always mean innocent. Sometimes, they were just a mask for something much darker. Cuz I don't want that getting messed up. Can I take that off you? I think that's best. Yes. Can you see without these or not? >> Yes, I can. I'm going to put them right here on the hood of this car, all right? Right next to the wall. Th- Thanks a lot, pal. Okay. >> It was just It was just overwhelming and adrenaline. off guard. Listen. I got to I got to put him behind your back, but I got these, okay? And they're bigger, so they'll fit your wrist, okay? All right. We'll We'll do We'll We'll give it a We'll give it a minute. We'll give it a minute. We'll give it a minute. Let's wait for Let's wait for confirmation. Did we send for confirmation? No, not yet. Let me do that. Let's Let's go ahead and send him. Dispatch 204, can you send one security at a time? We sent for confirmation. So So, you get the understanding or not we're to go at this time, okay? Although, you're not physically handcuffed, you're sexually being detained at the police station. Typic- Typically, someone would be handcuffed right now. Okay. Did you send out one or two? Okay. I'm just circling back. Yeah, everything's Everything's going all right. I think we're short dispatchers today. They had Tom go on on one earlier today, so. Is Kelly home? Were you home this morning? I was here. You said you got his phone. Yeah. Is Is a passcode or anything to your phone? All eights. All eights. All eights. Is that the Huh? The the common right? I'm going to be 100% honest with you. One of the directives we got was to collect your phone. So, I have to seize your phone for evidence. Can I allow them to let you open it? So, what's going to happen is they're going to get a search warrant. This isn't our case. So, I I don't know what's going to happen. This is Lake County. All we got was a Lake County contacted us and said, "Hey, we want you to go and and find this guy." And since I knew you, I'm like, "I would rather be me than somebody else because I don't know how somebody else is going to treat you." Okay. So. So, so what's what's happening is there's a warrant. Somebody Somebody in Lake County or Clermont, I forget who it is, has probable cause for charges. Okay. Okay. They've got a $30,000 bond. So, that means you got to go see a bondsman. Yeah. You got to bondsman 10% of that 30,000. >> What is that? What's what? What is that? $3,000. To a bondsman. These aren't my charges. I have no idea what the what the details are. >> what I did. Yeah. They were just they they called us and said, "Hey, we would like you to go and pick him up." So, so I can't I can't Ask me Ask me whatever questions you want. >> attorney? Not right now. But whenever cuz we we got to take you to the Orange County jail cuz we can't go to Lake County. Orange County? We got to take you to the Orange County jail. >> So, I got to get a bondsman from Orange County. So, here's here's the tricky part. Once you get there, you're going to be put in a big room full of telephones. Make all of your phone calls then. >> I don't know the numbers. I'll get you We'll get you a piece of paper with all the number Any numbers you want, we'll get you a piece of paper, okay? The truth about the future he'd earned finally caught up to him. Moments later, the officer began laying out the facts, details that would shape the next chapter of his life, whether he liked it or not. Okay. I'm just taking my your phone for their direct direction. I'm not going through your phone. I'm not going to look at your phone. The only thing we might do is we'll open it up and get the phone numbers that you want. Which are you talking about? >> you'll be you'll be in view to see what we're how we're manipulating your phone to see what we're getting. >> on our end is being audio recorded. Okay. So, if if they don't have probable cause to go through your phone, then you'll get your phone back and and that'll be the end of it. But again, I don't know any details. I'm just giving you general information on how it usually usually works. Okay? 30 3,000, I'm sorry. So, so it's a $30,000 bond. If you go to a bondsman, they charge you 10% of whatever the bond is. You pay them $3,000 and they will put up the 30,000. Does that make sense? So, the bondsman is paying your $30,000. Which they will get a return to them whenever you show up to court. They keep your 3,000. That's how they make money. Can I call my wife? I'll I'll give I'll give you a chance when whenever whenever we get to a point of if if this is confirmed cuz it happens where So, >> phone number, I know. Okay. So, sometimes it sometimes it's not going to If they can't pull that warrant out and have it in their hand, then we walk away, you go home. So, there's a process. They they physically have to go into a room, find that exact warrant, and hold it in their hand for the confirmation. And if if we get a call back that they have it, I'll let you call your wife and you can you can let her know what's going on. And And we'll have to put these on and this young lady's going to take you. Okay? Let's You want to grab his phone so we can start working on phone numbers? Just in the event that uh it's confirmed. What's your wife's I just say you we could do it from my phone, that way we don't have to start 67 and then cuz I don't care if he has my number. So, you said all 800 >> It's already ringing here. Okay. Hi, ma'am. This is Officer Murray with the Winter Garden Police Department on the cell. Your husband has been I just want to let you know our body cameras are activated, okay? So, everything on our end is being audio video recorded. Um So, so vigilant, your husband um I'll let him explain, okay? Hang on 1 second. Hey, Kelso. Um apparently, they're going to take me to Orange County Jail. Um and I guess I I I think there's a bondsman place right around somewhere over there, maybe. >> It's like the right across the street. Right. I'll talk to him down there. Apparently, it's right across the street. Um it's going to be $3,000 or $30,000 bond. You have to post 10%. I have to post 10%. I don't Okay. I I don't I don't I don't know. Um Okay. Uh can you um uh call my mom? Okay. Okay. And then um I I um um I will get Can you go to pencil I can give you my attorney's number? Yeah. What's it under? Um I I got >> let you have your phone back. Mark Longwell. Hang on. How do I get to cancel? What are you looking for? Uh I want to go to search. Mark Orange County Yeah. >> Yes, ma'am. It's going to be the uh Mark Orange County booking and receiving facility in downtown Orlando. Um Kelly, um The I'm sorry. Can you write down this number? Yeah. 407 426 7 So, if you have your wife's number and that number if everything has to be coordinated Okay. Should I go in there right now? Uh, no, ma'am. We're we're still we're still confirming some details, okay? This is likely going to be the potential outcome. Um so, we're just trying to extend every courtesy we can. Once once some information gets confirmed, he'll get transported right directly to the uh So, you can see what I'm doing. No, I just I just put it in the airplane mode. And then, if you have any other questions, Sergeant House will be working today until 6:00 p.m. After completing all the necessary steps, the officers readied him for the journey ahead, a path from which there would be no coming back from. Hey, uh hey, Curtis, before he gets all the way in, let's just have him kick off his Okay. shoes real quick. I'm just going to have him sit. Yeah, I know. He's You're all right, buddy. Just come on come on over here. Don't get in yet, so that way you can put your shoes back on. Can you slip into those? You want me to untie them for you? Okay. Just step in there. There you go. It's easier if you put your butt in first and then just kind of spin in there. So, I'm going to bring these back to your your wife, okay? Cuz you have cash in here, and and bringing cash into the jail is Cuz they put it into a machine, and then they you don't get the cash back. If you want to just lay back, I'm I'm okay with that. Cuz I don't know that you're going to be able to spin your feet in there. Okay, tell me what Tell me what you need. Tell me what you need. Tell me what you need. My leg is just pinched. Okay. I couldn't move What do you What do you need me to do? I tried I was trying to slide back. I can't get my hands back in there. You've got the Oh, here. I can push you back. Step right there. There you go. This is as far as the belt can go over here. All right. Can you get in there? Can you spin around? It's It's going to be tight. Yep. Get comfortable however you can. It's You don't have to spin around if you can't. Sir, can you loosen the belt right there? Might get more room. Can you get your foot There's more room up in here if you can get your foot in there. There you go. Here, let's do Let's do this. Pull your feet back out and just go ahead and lay back. Is that Is that Is that going to be better? You can literally put your feet up here. Are you good Are you good there? Okay. Are you all right? No, I I mean, are you sitting okay? You got any more questions before you go? All right. She can try to make it quick as she can, all right? Can you just call her Can you How long will it take for us to give me It's It's going to be a few hours, okay? It's going to be a few hours, and worst case and I'm I'm being 100% honest with you, [ __ ] I don't want to hide anything from you. Worst case scenario, Sierra 1. Um if they're going to extradite you, you'll have to stay That means take you to to Lake County. You'll have to wait at Orange at the Orange County jail until they transport you to Lake County, and then you'll get bonded out in Lake County. And it's a 50/50 I don't know how they do it. I don't know the process or how they decide it. I'm just letting you know there's a possibility that you might have to stay there till Monday or Tuesday until you go to Lake County. I don't know their schedule. I don't know how it works. I just know that it Sometimes the way that the jails work, they'll allow you to get bonded out from the arresting county because these This is two counties. This warrant was issued in Lake County. We're arresting you in Orange County. We can't take you to Lake County. We can only take you to Orange County. So if they're going to extradite then they'll transport you to Lake County and you'll get bonded out there. Okay? And I don't know I don't know if this is one of those cases or not. The vast majority of time you just get bonded out in in Orange County. The best thing to do is have Kelly call in about 3 hours. It's a long booking process. Eventually, Vigilant was charged with lewd and lascivious possession of explicit material, production of lewd material, and enticement to engage in intimate activity. So far we've seen wolves pretending to be sheep, but none compared to Oscar Olivar. His decade-long evil reign of terror as a gymnastics coach and instructor finally came to an end after this interview. The parents are always outside, but there's moments that they're not present. One thing I do tell the kids is like, "Hey, I'm going to bite you, but what I do is tickle them." And I tickle them here or on the stomach. Parents have heard me say that. I would smile. Oh my god. Let me say this. Oh my god. And I'll just lift them up real quick. And the mom half the time are there. They want to see me doing that. On February the The 2023, after weeks of gathering information from multiple parents, Oscar Oliera was arrested. A Miami Herald investigation had exposed over a decade of complaints about his conduct with young athletes. Allegations from at least five victims revealed a pattern leading to an interview where key details slipped out, mostly unintentionally. He's a lead detective right now, and I'm just officer on the side. Oh, okay. Trying to trying to get to the detective's position, so that's why I'm here and trying to learn some from him. Kind of being mentored right now. That's all. Congrats. Yeah, appreciate it. You try to stay here in Key Biscayne, or you try to move? Yeah, no. I'll probably stay here. I came from another department, so Oh, where? Um, Miami-Dade schools police. Miami-Dade school? Yeah. The officer started light, keeping things familiar to put him at ease. Just like a well-written book, this move worked. The detective read him perfectly, and the results came faster than expected. So, it's like you you're building that type that you realize, "Oh, crap, they're trusting me this much." So, you have to stay in the position of continuously build that type of rapport and trust. Because, fortunately, like you guys, there's great police officers, there's great coaches. But, there's a complete opposite side that destroys everything that we do. And as much as you want to be, "Hey, I'm there for you. Come talk to me. We'll move here. Oh, I got you." I think that's like the worst thing that happened was the fact that I tread lightly with so many people. But, then, when I started building better relationships with a lot of people, they knew me for a while, driving over to their house here and there, then, you know, you play around. Now that the detective had him slightly off guard, they moved on to carefully crafted open-ended questions designed to see exactly where he would lead them. Okay, so just in your own words, talk to me about this incident that was reported to me. I believe it happened on Monday. Or >> When you say I called? The incident that we we spoke about with the the girl and her brother. >> Oh, okay. Before even named me, he tells me Do you know he said me hermana? I looked at him and I'm like That's He's like I was like, "Mira Hey man, you know that's where my Spanish starts getting a little bit like this and I'm like You know what I'm saying? Then later on he tells me the kid's name. And I'm like private class with me. I gave that back to her. Like this. And for me I get a face because the mom has seen me with her while picking her up. Just taking that out of that. So I had the camera like not camera but right there in the window. Have you ever had a class with her where her mom wasn't there or they're always her mom's present? The parents are always outside but there's moments that they're not present. Okay. You know. No, I'm wondering why. >> There yeah. So one thing I used to bring up my work in the my work in the park is I've always wanted the parents to be present. But you guys know as much as I do. Unfortunately these kids, their parents never present. I spoke to my employees and I have girls working for me and I'm like Okay. Tell me the truth. Don't hold back and that's why I make sure all my employees tell me the truth. Like please don't lie. Say at any moment have you heard me say any of the words and I like I said, I apologize to them. Sorry for the language but you ever heard me say "If you don't commit to what you're doing grande." And then all my students are like, "No." "Okay, you remember this if you remember getting what I said to you." And they're like, "Yes." "Okay, this the brother who was accusing me of this." All of my employees looked at me with their eyes of baffled. One thing I do tell kids like, "Hey, I'm going to bite you, but what I do is tickle them." And I tickle them here on the stomach. Parents have heard me say that in front of me just saying it to the kid. Do Do you remember like specific incidents like her saying that to her off the top of your head or could you have said it to a group that she was in at any point? I don't. I wish I could tell you, but I don't. But you just say it generally Yeah, when while you're coaching. While I'm coaching. Like if in gymnastics, if you're not fully tight, then the skill doesn't come out. So, there's moments where you say this is the their leg or the side, but you got to get this tight. Tight. Because that will turn up. The reason why the The tighter you are, the easier kid the skill comes out. And as a coach, you want to coach up to a certain extent then later on you can take a step back and just watch. Like there you go. Point your toes. Point your toes. Stay tight. Stay tight. And doing this is like just patting their legs. Tight. Come up. Aside from those type of touches, do you don't Do you remember ever tickling this particular child? Tickling her? Yeah. Yeah, me and her the mom and I have multiple times tickled her in person. The tickling and the other stuff, is that part of like standard training of gymnastics coaching or that something that you think you do cuz you're animated as you described? >> I do it cuz I'm animated and at the same time I do it cuz it's built a good reputation not reputation but rapport rapport or a good vibe with the parents and kids in the sense of like, "Oh, coach Oscar is serious, but funny." He knows how to communicate with the kids when they're like they're like like the one I was trying a lot. I know how to go on one knee like, "Hey, what's up? What's wrong?" You know, mommy she's like, "I want to go home." And then it's just because her mom always drops her off and she always tears. So, I know ways to go on knee and just stroke her around like, "Oh my god, help." "Oh my god, you just farted. Relax. But you your mommy loves you. She's going to come if you cry right now, the class one hour will take about 45 hours. But if you just relax, the class will go quick." And she should start relaxing and then tickle her again and go ahead and she'll relax. Or just, you know, doing stuff like that. I always always bring that up because my sport my sport has a bad reputation. Has both. Has the fact of yes, there are has been cases of people, you know, molesting children. For that, has been cases of people who have not done anything and been accused and lost their jobs. At any point, um did you ever get the sense that she was uncomfortable with your interactions or did she ever tell you make any comments to you that she was uncomfortable? No. Over the years, he had twisted his position as a coach into a tool for sinister schemes, but he wasn't about to confess because deep down, he knew exactly what he had done. He had silenced his victims and warned them not to tell their parents, promised marriage to very young athletes, and crossed every reasonable line into intimacy. Well, when you say you you tickle them in a playful manner when you're doing this and the parents question you about it, can you demonstrate what you mean by that? So, pretty much if they're to like for example, I have a student she's always very like she cries for me all the time. But her mom knows her mom's a grabber. Um I'll go around like, "Oh my god, smile smile smile. Oh my god, 30 seconds. Oh my god." And I'll just lift them up and do this and then the mom half the time is right there I want to see you doing that. And that's it. Or like I'll go from here like tick tick tick like this. His carefully crafted story didn't hold up against what the detective already knew. That was the moment the gloves came off and the questions turned blunt and unavoidable. I understand that you say that you have to touch all parts of their bodies while you're doing a gymnastics move. I'm talking about strictly professionally >> professionally as you're doing a gymnastics move. Just depending on the movement, yes. They're alleging that you touched her butt and chest while she was performing a gymnastics move. At certain moments there's there's a chest A chest touch is If they're leaning forward like too forward you put chest in like this. It's moments where like it's harder. I would tell myself when I had conversations with my employees and other coaches like sometimes it's harder as a male coach to try build that rapport with the kids and parents when you're working on that that with one of gymnastics. So do you ever teach classes alone or do your employees are always there with you? Now, before I did due to the fact that it was very hard to find employees, but now I have employees working with me. And the only times that I did work alone would be the 2:30 Mondays and Wednesdays and the private class. I have to now refer to be like Well, I need you to understand that it's not it's not just you. Look at our career and what the changes that have happened with body cameras and with protocols and policy. We've all had to go through that same adjustments as the world changes, we need to adapt to the world. It's not just gymnastics, it's not just police, it's not just medical profession. The world changes and you need to change with it or get left behind. And that's the reality. Several other people came up with very allegations against him. He had no place to hide, and eventually he was charged with intimate battery, abuse, lewd acts involving individuals under the age of consent, unlawful intimate activity, and contributing to the delinquency of a Four additional felony charges were later added.