Petaluma Little League coach accused of stalking, domestic violence

One of three coaches who led a Petaluma youth baseball team to the Little League World Series and local fame two years ago is in jail on charges of stalking and repeatedly violating a restraining order preventing him from contacting his estranged wife, according to police and his attorney.

Trevor Robert Tomei, 47, of Petaluma was arrested on suspicion of committing a number of offenses between Sept. 4 and Monday, Petaluma Police Lt. Danny Fish said in a news release issued Wednesday. The charges include willful cruelty to a child, which can include anything from causing “unjustifiable pain or mental suffering” to endangering a child’s health.

The events happened in Sebastopol and Petaluma, Fish said. Between Sept. 9 and Sept. 29, Tomei was arrested twice for violating a domestic violence restraining order, he said. Such orders are issued to protect people from abuse or threats of abuse from someone they have a close relationship with. Both times, Tomei was released on bail.

Tomei’s repeat violations prompted a police detective to investigate further in early October. She found evidence that Tomei continued to violate his restraining order, even after his two arrests. Based on her findings, police again arrested Tomei on Oct. 7. He was booked into Sonoma County Jail and a judge enhanced his bail to $500,000 because of “the likelihood that the offenses would continue if Tomei were released from custody,” Fish said. The judge also issued a no contact order, which Tomei allegedly violated by calling one of the victims from a jail phone, Fish said.

Tomei’s lawyer, Evan Zelig, called the case “extremely overcharged.” He said Tomei sent text messages to his estranged wife to try to schedule visits with their son. The communication was permitted under the terms of a court order, Zelig said.

When she didn’t respond, he continued texting her, sending up to 50 messages on certain days, Zelig said. He acknowledged the numbers seemed high but said Tomei never threatened the wife or made any attempt to stalk her.

“He was trying to find out where his kid was so he could pick him up from school,” Zelig said. “It was all about the kid.”

Tomei’s twin brother, Tracy Tomei, also emphasized the same point. “He never physically harmed her or their son. It was all verbal and texting,” he said. “I know it’s a crime, I know it’s not right, but nothing physical ever took place.”

He acknowledged his brother had sent inappropriate messages to his son where he called the son’s mother bad names. That, he said, is what led to the charge of cruelty to a child.

He added that the marriage had been troubled for years and that the couple were living apart. But, he said, both sides had acted in ways that were damaging to the relationship.

“My brother is not this violent predator running around harming people,” he said. “He loves his kid and wants to see him and hold on to his family.”

On Tuesday, a request to reduce Tomei’s bail was denied. He is scheduled to enter a plea at 8 a.m. Friday.

Fish said he would not provide additional details about the alleged crimes, both because the case is now in the hands of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and to protect the victims’ right to confidentiality.

Staff Writer Paul Payne contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Jamie Hansen at 521-5205 or jamie.hansen@?pressdemocrat.com