Detectives Seek Child Abuse Victims of Soccer Coach

Santa Barbara - January 23rd, 2012

Detectives with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s assistance in locating anyone with information regarding possible victims of a former youth soccer coach who is already facing multiple charges of child molestation.

52-year old Terence Paul Stevens (DOB 3/16/59) was a soccer coach in the Lompoc area in the mid to late 1980s. At that time, Stevens befriended several of his juvenile players who he ultimately molested. Two of those victims, who are now adults, have told investigators, in recent months, about their victimization at the hands of Stevens when they were minors living in the Lompoc area.

By the mid 1990’s, Stevens had moved to the San Diego area where he continued coaching youth soccer. In 2008, Stevens was visiting Yuma, Arizona, when authorities there arrested him for Sexual Conduct with a Minor. He has since been convicted for that crime and is currently serving a prison sentence in Arizona.

In August, 2011, Stevens was extradited to the custody of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office to answer the local charges from the 1980s.  Stevens is now facing 17 felony counts of Lewd Acts with a Child; Oral Copulation of a Minor and Sodomy with a Minor (288a (c)(2); 288a (c)(1); 286 (c)(1); and 288(a) of the California Penal Code, all of which are related to the crimes committed against the two Lompoc area victims.

If you, or anyone you know, have information regarding any additional victims of Terence Stevens, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office is asking that you contact the Detective Bureau at (805) 934-6170 or the Sheriff’s Anonymous Tip Line at (805) 681-4171. Sheriff’s detectives are releasing a recent booking photo of Stevens as well as three photos of Stevens taken in the mid 1980’s.

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org