Sonoma County: Investigation into alleged child molester widens

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (KTVU) - In Sonoma County, an investigation is expanding into an alleged child molester who police say, portrayed himself as a mentor.

68-year-old Paul Dwayne Kilgore of Boyes Hot Springs in the Sonoma Valley was arrested Sunday Sept 19 and is being held on $1 million bail.

Since his arrest, investigators say a dozen additional calls have come in, from people who claim to be a victim or know of a victim.

Kilgore's decade long work-history with youth is also under scrutiny.  

"It looks like there's a pattern of behavior that's been going on for many, many, years," Healdsburg Police Sgt. Luis Rodriguez told KTVU.

On August 27, police got a report from the ParkPoint Health Club, where Kilgore had brought the boys.

A member there had become alarmed, and reported what he saw and overheard in the hot tub and shower area- inappropriate language and touching among the three.

The boys are also from Sonoma, and police say Kilgore had befriended their families.

"I think they looked at him as sort of a mentor, and trusted him quite a bit," explained Sgt. Rodriguez.

"They allowed their kids to go places with him, mostly local recreational stuff, but also some longer overnights out of town."

At the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, where Kilgore worked as Athletic Director for eleven years, the CEO expressed concern and sadness.

"It's always a concern when something like this comes up," Robert Hughes told KTVU, "but there were no incidents, that we're aware of, while he was here."

Hughes says all background checks were performed on Kilgore, and that he resigned voluntarily in 2013, with a clean record.

Kilgore had access to children, but rules forbid staffers from being alone with kids, and outside field trips are forbidden.

Should it come out, that Kilgore preyed on kids while employed at the program?

"I'd be surprised. I'd be really disappointed," said Hughes, "but when people are involved in criminal pursuits they can be very clever."

Outside the Boys and Girls Clubs Headquarters, parents were absorbing the allegations.

"It's really heartbreaking but we're still coming back because this is a safe place," mother of two Star Fales told KTVU, "but now that we have a picture of him, we will talk to our kids about it at home today, in a safe environment."

Kilgore lives with his elderly father and neighbors say they sometimes saw the two men walking in the morning.

"I've never seen him with kids, only with his father, " Alondra Dominguez told KTVU, as she drove past the house where Kilgore was arrested.

Serving a search warrant, investigators also found evidence, that they say backed up the two boy's stories, about being groomed as victims. 

"He seemed like an ordinary guy," said Dominguez, "so we're surprised, it's crazy, quite a shock."

Police say Kilgore made some admissions to them, when he was taken into custody.

They want to hear from any potential victims, as they explore his background.