4 teens come forward in case against Central Valley wrestling coach, sheriff's report says

Reports by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office allege a Central Valley wrestling coach gave teens unwanted massages, exchanged nude photos with them and had sex with a minor on school grounds. 

Details of accusations against Stephen Reed, 27, were outlined in two investigative reports by the sheriff's office following the coach's arrest in late February. Prosecutors formally charged Reed last week with 15 criminal counts, 11 of which are felonies, including statutory rape.

A public defender has pleaded not guilty on Reed's behalf.

In all, four teens spoke to sheriff's officials with allegations against Reed, according to the reports. They ranged from 15 to 17 at the time of the incidents, which took place between November 2018 and March 2019, according to charging documents. 

The names of the accusers are confidential, as they were under 18 at the time of the alleged offenses. 

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Report: Unwanted massages escalated 

One girl was 16 when she said Reed began giving her massages. After a while, the touching escalated to a point where he would unhook her bra and massage her "almost on a nightly basis," according to the reports. 

One night, Reed asked the girl if he could give her a massage, and she told deputies she didn't answer because she thought he would do it anyway. She said he undressed her despite her objection, according to the reports. 

"She was afraid Reed would get angry, and again, felt obligated to let him do what he wanted to," a report read.

Then, Reed groped her, according to the report. Shortly after, Reed's wife and children arrived.

The teen realized what Reed was doing was wrong because he ran into another room and texted her an apology for "going a little too far," according to the reports. 

She told investigators she never consented to any touching and never gave Reed the idea she was romantically interested in him. 

Reed was 10 years older than her at the time, and the sheriff's report says her interview had to be stopped several times because she "became so emotional that she was unable to speak." 

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The teen said she started to dress more conservatively and not use makeup because she wanted to be less attractive to Reed, according to the report. 

More allegations emerge

Speaking with investigators, the first teen said she had seen Reed give a massage to another girl who was 17 at the time. When investigators spoke to the second teen, she said Reed gave her massages over her clothing in which he touched her breasts on multiple occasions, according to the report.

"She ended all of those massages because she felt so uncomfortable," the report said. "One time, (she) was so upset she immediately went into a bathroom ... and cried." 

The second teen told detectives about a third girl, 15 at the time, who may have had information about Reed. The third girl reportedly said Reed had massaged her several times. In one instance, she said he offered to massage her and told her to take her shirt off, but she refused, according to the reports. 

In another instance, she and a fourth girl shared a bed with Reed. Reed had sex with the fourth girl while the third girl was in the bed next to them, according to the reports.

The fourth teen said she had sex with Reed multiple times as a 16-year-old, including incidents that happened on Central Valley campus grounds. She added that she had exchanged nude photos with Reed over Snapchat, according to the reports. 

What comes next?

When sheriff's deputies interrogated Reed on Feb. 27, he admitted to many of the allegations but denied groping the first girl, according to the reports. 

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Reed was arrested and had his bail set at $1,127,000 before last Monday's arraignment in which the bail was lowered to $1 million. Reed remains in the Shasta County Jail, according to the sheriff's website. 

The probation department recommended holding Reed in jail due to the nature of the charges and because of concern he is a flight risk, according to a probation report.

Judge Adam Ryan ordered Reed not to have any contact with or go on the property of the four teens. Reed's next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday. 

Sheriff's officials said Reed was suspended from his job at the onset of the investigation and that school officials have been cooperative. 

The sheriff's office is asking any other potential victims or people with information on the case to come forward by calling 530-245-6135.

Issues can also be reported to Central Valley High School and the Gateway Unified School District at 530-245-7900, a sheriff's sergeant said.

Central Valley principal Kyle Turner said in an email that he can't speak about the incident as the school district continues to investigate. 

Jim Harrell, superintendent of the Gateway Unified School District, did not respond to phone calls or an emailed list of questions as of this article's publication. 

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Matt Brannon covers politics, the criminal justice system and breaking news for the Record Searchlight. Follow him on Twitter @MattBrannon_RS. Support local coverage and keep up with the North State for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.