Diving Coach Is Arrested in Child Porn Case

A Thousand Oaks diving coach, who worked at Newbury Park and Agoura high schools last spring, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing images of minors in sexual situations and of intent to distribute child pornography.

William Glinton Douglas III, 45, was arrested Monday at his Thousand Oaks home, four months after his home computer was seized in a search for evidence.

Investigators said they found more than 2,000 suggestive photo and video images in the computer, many of them showing naked boys and girls engaged in sexual activity. Deputy Dist. Atty. Howard Wise said inappropriate images of children were also found in Douglas’ home and van.

Officials said they have uncovered no evidence suggesting Douglas molested any students or swimmers involved with Dive Thousand Oaks, a private diving club he operates.

At a court appearance Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Kevin J. McGee set Douglas’ bail at $150,000 and barred him from unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, and from accessing the Internet.

Douglas has been charged with one felony count of possessing obscene photos of children with intent to distribute them and two misdemeanor counts of possessing child pornography. Douglas agreed to postpone his arraignment until Sept. 24.

Douglas was identified earlier this year as a member of a Yahoo chat group that catered to those interested in child pornography, authorities said. Operation Candyman, a federal crackdown on online obscenity, resulted in scores of arrests in 20 states in March. Subsequent investigation led authorities to Douglas.

One parent involved with Dive Thousand Oaks said Douglas’ arrest came as a shock to those who know him.

“It was absolutely, totally out of the blue. There has never been any complaint or allusion to a complaint,” said Peggy Rosenberg of Thousand Oaks, a member of Dive Thousand Oaks’ governing board.