North Bay Man Accused Of Sexually Abusing Girl For Years: DA

SUISUN CITY, CA —A 60-year-old Suisun City man is being held in lieu of $3.2 million bail at a Contra Costa County jail following his arrest Thursday, July 11 in Walnut Creek on allegations that he sexually abused a girl younger than 14 years old. Paul Fielder, a former youth basketball coach and school district employee, was formally charged Monday, July 15 with 32 counts of child sex abuse, according to Scott Alonso, spokesman for the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

The charges against Fielder are the result of an investigation by the Walnut Creek Police Department, the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.

Walnut Creek detectives and federal agents arrested Fielder Thursday, July 11 when he arrived at a location in Walnut Creek to meet a minor to engage in sex acts, Alonso said.

"The investigation revealed Fielder had been sexually abusing a minor for several years," Alonso said.

In a 14-page criminal complaint against Fielder, prosecutors say the sex abuse took place in Contra Costa County — presumably Walnut Creek — over a period of four-and-a-half years, from Feb. 27, 2015 until Fielder's arrest date of July 11, 2019.

The court documents identify the victim only as Jane Doe, a girl younger than 14 when the sex abuse allegedly took place. Of the 32 counts filed against Fielder, 30 are for alleged lewd acts upon a child younger than 14. Another count alleges sexual penetration by a foreign object; the final count alleges oral copulation of a child younger than 14.

The investigation further revealed Fielder previously coached youth sports in Solano County and was employed by at least one school district as a high school campus supervisor, Alonso said without elaborating on where exactly Fielder coached or worked when he held the positions around youth.

The Contra Costa County DA's Office encourages parents to discuss online safety with their children, visiting Kidsmartz.org for further information, Alonso said.

Fielder remains in custody at Martinez Detention Facility awaiting his next court appearance set for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Patch was not able to immediately reach a Walnut Creek police lieutenant Tuesday afternoon for additional information on the case. Should we hear back, this post will be updated.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation of Fielder can contact Walnut Creek police Detective Amber Martin at 925-943-5870 or Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at 925-957-8757.