A college professor and track coach who was recognized last year by the California Community College Cross Country and Track Coaches Association was arrested last week on charges related to pimping.
According to the Contra County District Attorney’s Office, 39-year-old Kyle Lee Whitmore of Crockett, Calif., was arrested last Thursday and faces nine felony counts. Charges include human trafficking, pandering, pimping, and other charges related to the use of force while engaging in sexual acts.
“It is alleged that Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 were trafficked by Whitmore to commit crimes of prostitution,” said the Contra County District Attorney’s Office. “Whitmore is also being charged with one count of pimping and four counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object.”
Whitmore was listed on the Diablo Valley College website as a member of the communications studies faculty, serving the Pleasant Hill campus, as of Wednesday. A Facebook post from the college on Aug. 12 of last year announced that he had been named the “Men’s Coach of the Year” by the Community College Cross Country and Track Coaches Association.
Per the district attorney’s office, “Jane Doe #1 reported her situation to authorities at Diablo Valley College,” and “after an investigation by campus police and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Whitmore was arrested and taken into custody while the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case for a filing decision.”
A nine-count felony complaint was filed Monday and Whitmore’s arraignment was scheduled Tuesday at Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez. Whitmore’s defense attorney asked the judge to push the arraignment to Sept. 19 and the judge agreed, CBS News reported. Arrest records reflect that date as his next court date.
According to CBS News, Diablo Valley College issued a statement about Whitmore. It described him as a “tenured” faculty member and confirmed that he was placed on administrative leave.
“The District is grateful to staff who, through proper training, were able to identify a serious situation and quickly report it to our Police Services, who subsequently communicated with the Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney. This is an ongoing investigation, and there are more facts to ascertain,” the statement read. “We ask the community to be patient and allow processes to move forward without making assumptions or contributing to speculation.”
It also said the district is “devastated by the seriousness of the allegations that have been raised thus far,” and that “the safety of our students and staff is our main priority.”
CBS said that Whitmore will remain in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility until his arraignment. He is being held without bail, said the district attorney’s office.