Segerstrom High School Coach Arrested For Sexual Relationship With Student, Cops Say

SANTA ANA, CA — A high school basketball coach and private trainer was arrested on Sunday after a female victim (name withheld) reported a long-term inappropriate relationship with the teacher, according to Santa Ana Police Department. Santa Ana police are currently seeking additional victims in this case, who may have endured similar circumstances.

The female victim, now 19-years-old, claimed that she became involved in an inappropriate relationship with her basketball coach when she was 16-years-old and attending Segerstrom High School.

The alleged child molester is Tracey Stephan Fulford, a 52-year-old Santa Ana resident and basketball coach, who has worked as a "walk-on" basketball and track and field coach in the Santa Ana Unified School District for 37 years, according to Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

He has often provided students with private lessons.

"That's how this got started," Bertagna said. "He gained the family's trust, so for a lot of the personal lessons he would pick her up at the house and take her to different locations."

On July 7, the female victim reported the long-term involvement with her high school basketball coach to the current coaching staff at the high school. The victim and her family were unsatisfied with the lack of action being taken on her behalf and sought help from the Santa Ana Police Department.

"On Saturday at approximately 10:30 p.m. the 19-year old female victim came to the Santa Ana Police Department accompanied by her parents," Bertagna said.

The victim stated to police that she believed the high school staff made attempts to discourage her from speaking out about the sexual relationship and that is why she reported the crime to the SAPD.

"Obviously, we're looking into what happened at the school," Bertagna said. "Were there any violations of mandated reporting on their part? That's a separate investigation."

The victim identified Fulford, reporting that during private basketball lessons she willingly followed Fulford into a storage room and other locations in the school gymnasium and they would engage in inappropriate sexual acts, according to Bertagna.

"The relationship continued past her 18th birthday at which time they engaged in consensual sex away from the school," Bertagna said.

On Sunday, Santa Ana police officers responded to Fulford’s Santa Ana residence where he rents a room.

"The owner of the residence stated Fulford was working in Irvine," Bertagna said. "Officers responded to the suspect's place of employment where they arrested him without incident." Fulford was transported to the Santa Ana Police Department where he was interviewed regarding the allegations against him.

Based on the information officers obtained during their investigation and incriminating statements made by the suspect, Fulford was booked at the Santa Ana Jail.

Police have "multiple cell phones" booked into evidence that allegedly contain sexually explicit messages between the two, Bertagna said.

Charges include child molestation, lewd conduct and distributing harmful matter to a child, according to Bertagna, and he is being held on $100,000 bail.

Detectives will work with the Santa Ana Unified School District and their police department to investigate any allegations of staff, failing to complete mandated reporting of the incident to police or the school administrators, according to Bertagna.

Patch has reached out to the Segerstrom High School athletics director regarding the incident, however no response has been received as of this report.

SAPD Detectives believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information contact Detective E. Majors at 714-245-8378, emajors@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Updates: Santa Ana Unified School District statements added, July 11.

Santa Ana Police Photo