Track Coach Accused of Molesting Boy

The nationally recognized track coach at Pasadena’s John Muir High School was arrested Monday on suspicion of molesting a 15-year-old boy, authorities said.

Clyde Ezra Turner, 43, was taken into custody by Pasadena police Monday afternoon after the boy’s parents reported the alleged molestation to school officials, authorities said.

Turner, a former national track coach of the year who is a truant officer at Charles W. Eliot Middle School in Altadena, was taken into custody at Pasadena school district offices, police said.

He was booked on suspicion of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor and exhibiting harmful material with intent to seduce a minor, Cmdr. Mary Schander said.

Turner, whose boys track team has won four state championships this decade, was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail in the Pasadena Police Department jail, authorities said.

According to a police report, the victim told his parents he was molested last Friday at Turner’s house, where he said the coach had invited him to watch a pornographic video.

According to the report, Turner told detectives that he had invited the boy to his house, but it was the boy’s suggestion that they watch the video. He told police that he might have come into physical contact with the boy a couple of times, which may have given the boy “the wrong idea,” the report said. Police seized the videotape as evidence, the report said.

Pasadena school officials immediately placed Turner on administrative leave from his job as a truant officer, a district official said.

“This is a very serious situation for the district,” said school board member George Padilla. “It is very disappointing for everyone here.”