Investigation of Sonoma man and alleged child sex abuse expands

A Sonoma man charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child after being spotted in a Healdsburg health club shower inappropriately touching two boys, previously worked for Sonoma County chapters of the Boys and Girls Club in Sonoma and Petaluma.

Neither of the current allegations involve children linked to the Boys and Girls clubs, according to Healdsburg police.

Paul Dwayne Kilgore, 68, was the athletics director of the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma Valley from September 2002 until September 2013, a high profile position with a variety of popular sports programs from flag football to baseball, club officials said. In 2014, he worked with the club’s after-school program in Petaluma for about three months.

Investigators said Kilgore knows the 11- and 12-year-old boys involved in the health club incident through their families in the Sonoma Valley where he lives. He had brought the two boys to the health club the day he was arrested.

“At this point we haven’t had any information to suggest that anything started at the Boys and Girls Club,” Healdsburg Police Sgt. Luis Rodriguez said.

But since Kilgore’s Sunday arrest was publicized, Healdsburg police have received more than a dozen phone calls from people claiming to have been victims or knowing of victims, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said he has no details yet about those tips, which were taken by an officer, and whether they involve the Boys and Girls clubs. The expanding investigation prompted police Wednesday to release Kilgore’s booking photo in case others have relevant information about him.

Kilgore - who is known by his middle name Dwayne - is being held on $1 million bail at the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of two felony sex abuse crimes, one for each child.

Police arrested him Sunday and searched his Academy Lane home where he lives with his elderly father and a sister, Rodriguez said. Police on Monday searched a storage unit Kilgore kept in Sonoma. Rodriguez said evidence was found at those locations corroborating some of what the victims told police.

“We are looking into a pattern of abuse, a very specific pattern,” Rodriguez said. He said Kilgore’s abuse of the two boys was “going on for years.”

Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Staebell said Kilgore was arraigned Monday on two charges of committing more than three acts of substantial sexual conduct with a child under 14 years of age.

Staebell said they are still investigating allegations against Kilgore that could lead to additional charges. Kilgore is scheduled to return to court Oct. 4 to enter a plea.

Reached by phone, a family member of Kilgore’s hung up on a reporter.

Robert Hughes, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma Valley, said he learned about Kilgore’s arrest through news reports. He said the club is “not currently part of any investigation” into Kilgore.

The Sonoma Valley club this week sent a notice to families stating they were “shocked and saddened to learn that a former employee at the Club was recently arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse of a minor.” The statement noted the club is “fully committed to cooperating with the local authorities.”

Kilgore hasn’t had contact with the club since he retired in 2013, said Hughes, prior to the CEO joining the organization last year. Hughes said he has never met Kilgore.

“No one here has any idea what he’s been doing for the last three years,” Hughes said.

Robert Marcus, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Marin and Petaluma based in San Rafael, said Kilgore worked out of its Petaluma clubhouse from Jan. 14 to March 15, 2014.

Marcus said he’s not aware of any allegations related to Kilgore’s work with the club, but the news has prompted it to review policy safeguards aimed act protecting children participating in club activities.

“We’re having some serious conversations this morning; it is very troubling,” Marcus said.

Both club presidents said all employees must pass drug tests, along with background checks that would have revealed any prior convictions.

Club policy states that no child should ever be alone with an adult.

The investigation into Kilgore began with a call to police on Aug. 27.

A person at the Parkpoint Health Club in Healdsburg told an officer he saw what seemed to be inappropriate language and touching in the hot tub and shower area of the club’s locker room, according to police.

Rodriguez said investigators suspect Kilgore may have engaged in a pattern of abuse that included taking pre-teen and teen boys on outings to local recreation areas and on overnight trips, acting as a mentor and then sexually abusing them.

“It seemed that was his pattern of behavior,” Rodriguez said. “We’re looking at that as a way he groomed these children.”

Anyone with information about the case can call Officer Craig Smith at 707-431-3377.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.