California Track Coach Arrested For Having Sex With Student

A 64-year-old track and field coach from California was arrested for allegedly having sex with a student Thursday at the Oakland International Airport.

Steve Deschler, from Novato, California, was arrested after a police investigation into his relationship with a 17-year-old who recently graduated.

The student’s mother found text messages from the track coach on her daughter’s cell phone in June, suggesting the sexual relationship began in April. However, the two have known each other for four years.

Police say there’s no reason to suggest there are other victims involved.

The track coach was arrested on suspicion of oral copulation with a minor, sexual penetration of a minor, communicating with a minor with intent to commit a specified sex offense, and arranging a meeting and then meeting with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious conduct, according to ABC 7 News.

Deschler is currently free on $100,000 bail.

Police grabbed him as soon as he and his wife stepped off a plane as they returned from Hawaii. His wife appeared to be shocked, and Marin County Sheriff’s Lt. Doug Pittman told the Marin Independent Journal he didn’t think she knew about the relationship.

“The arrest totally caught her off guard. She was visibly shaken at the time. It appears to us at this point that this is new information to her, and she needs to process it all.”

The retired South San Francisco Fire Department Chief coached track and field at Novato High School for 20 years although he never taught there.

An emergency protective order was issued protecting the victim from further contact with the track coach.

There is speculation the sexual relationship sprang from the close relationship Deschler had with the victim and her family. Students and parents from Novato High describe Deschler in glowing terms, describing him as an amazing person and saying they’re shocked at recent events.

Thursday’s arrest comes months after two other California teachers were arrested for allegedly having sex with their students during a beach party earlier this year.

In January, two female teachers from Southern California’s West Covina High were arrested for alleged sexual contact with male students following an alcohol filled beach party and camping trip, according to the Inquisitr.

Two weeks before that, a male part-time wrestling coach at South Hills High was arrested for inappropriate contact with a 17-year-old.

Meanwhile, the Novato community must struggle with this latest scandal.

[Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images]