STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. — A former volunteer track coach at a Stanislaus County high school was arrested Tuesday amid a child sex abuse investigation, and there may be additional victims.
According to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old David Odom of Merced was arrested Tuesday for multiple felony charges related to sex acts with a minor.
The investigation began in February 2024 when someone reported a suspicious vehicle parked in their orchard. The man who reported it said he saw Odom and a woman “who looked young” sitting inside. He asked Odom to leave and then reported it to deputies.
Detective Alexander Ruezga started to investigate Odom and found a report from 2013 when he was allegedly in a relationship with a 16-year-old. At the time the victim provided limited information and the case was closed.
Ruezga contacted the victim, who is now an adult, and she told them she had a sexual relationship with Odom in 2013 and he was aware of her age.
Detectives also found Odom held several positions over the years where he would’ve had contact with minors. He was an assistant coach at Waterford High School in 2009, a youth group volunteer at Community Bible Church in Waterford in 2012 and a volunteer track coach at Hughson High School from 2021-23.
He was fired from Hughson in 2023 after staff saw him holding hands with a former student. Witnesses told investigators he had inappropriate relationships with female students in his time at Hughson.
He was arrested, booked into jail and released from custody on a $125,000 bail.
The sheriff’s office says both high schools and the church are working with detectives on the investigation. They are looking to find any additional victims or information.
You can contact Det. Ruezga at 209-652-0724 or email him at aruezga@stansheriff.com
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