A former Sonoma Valley Boys and Girls Club employee can be tried on charges of molesting three boys under the age of 14, a judge ruled Monday.
Paul “Dwayne” Kilgore, 69, was athletic director at the club for a decade before resigning in 2013. He’s accused of molesting the boys during trips to swimming pools, a popular arcade and his own house.
After hearing testimony from the boys — now ages 12, 14 and 15 — Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite ruled there was sufficient evidence to try him on six felony counts carrying a potential 25 years to life in prison.
A seventh charge alleging Kilgore forced one of the boys to pull down his pants was thrown out.
Now, Kilgore, who remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail, will return to court Feb. 17 to discuss a future trial date.
The ruling followed testimony from the last and oldest of the three alleged victims. The 15-year-old, who met Kilgore through the club when he was 6, said his mother arranged for Kilgore to give him swimming lessons starting about two years ago.
Like the other alleged victims, he told prosecutor Javier Vaca that Kilgore drove him to Parkpoint Health Club, about 40 minutes away in Healdsburg, before taking him to Kilgore’s house where he said the molestation occurred.
On one occasion, the boy testified Kilgore touched his penis after asking him to masturbate. In another, he said Kilgore ordered another boy to touch him. At that time, he said Kilgore produced a fuzzy, black vibrating pillow and touched it to the boys’ penises, the boy said.
On yet another occasion, he said Kilgore touched him over his clothes at a Scandia Family Fun Center arcade in Fairfield.
“He put his hand on my penis really quick and started chuckling,” the boy said.
The boy’s statements followed last week’s testimony from the two other boys who also reported going to Kilgore’s house after swimming.
An August incident allegedly involving the 12-year-old at Parkpoint resulted in Kilgore’s arrest. A club member testified Kilgore talked to the boy and one other about circumcision while the three sat in a hot tub. Later, he said Kilgore brushed a hand against the boy’s nude thigh.
Kilgore’s lawyer argued some of her client’s behavior did not constitute substantial sexual contact. Attorney Lynnette Brown said there was no evidence Kilgore was seeking sexual gratification. Brown said he was instructing the boys on puberty and other adolescent changes.
You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 707-568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.
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