Sebastopol Tennis Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Girl: SCSO

SEBASTOPOL, CA — A Sebastopol man is out on bail after his arrest Monday on allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl several years ago while he was her tennis coach, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. It is alleged that Casey Connaway, who is now 43 years old, carried on that relationship for two years, starting from when the girl was 15 years old, sheriff's Spokeswoman Mist Wood said.

Wood said the victim who prompted the investigation of Connaway is now an adult and lives in Ventura County. As a girl, she met Connaway when she took tennis lessons from him at Ragle Ranch Park, a park in Sebastopol operated by the Sonoma County Regional Parks system.

"During the coaching sessions, Connaway began establishing an unsolicited emotional relationship with the victim," Wood said. "Eventually, he convinced her to have a sexual relationship with him. This illegal relationship continued for two years while the victim was a minor."

On Oct. 26, 2019, she called the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

"She feared there may be other young women who have been victimized by Connaway because he has continued to be a tennis coach in Sebastopol," Wood said.

A subsequent investigation by detectives with the sheriff's Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit revealed that on July 25, 2017, two minors from out of the area were taking lessons from Connaway at a tennis camp.

"One student, a 16-year-old, told her family she was uncomfortable with some of Connaway’s statements," Wood said. "Deputies determined that no crime had occurred at that time and took an informational report."

Fast forward to this week, when, at 2 p.m. Monday, sheriff's deputies stopped Connaway as he was driving near Ragle Ranch Park and took him into custody.

"After arresting Connaway, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Detectives served a search warrant on Connaway’s car and home to gather more potential evidence," Wood said. "Connaway was booked into jail on felony charges of sex with a minor who is three or more years younger, oral copulation with a minor, and sexual penetration with an object."

Later that same day, Connaway, a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association —USPTA — was released on $120,000 bail.

Connaway is scheduled to appear in Sonoma County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 in Santa Rosa.

The investigation is continuing as the sheriff's office works to build a case against him.

"We know it's difficult to report a sexual assault and we appreciate the victim's bravery and cooperation," Wood said. "As part of the investigation, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is evaluating whether there are any more people who may have been victimized by Connaway. If you have information about additional victims or any information about this investigation, please contact Detective Salyers at 707-565-8290."