Youth leader suspected of lewd conduct
Deepa Bharath
NEWPORT BEACH -- Police arrested a 31-year-old city employee Wednesday
whom they suspect of engaging in lewd conduct with children who
participated in city recreational programs, officials said.
Trenton Michael Veches worked as a recreational coordinator for
Newport Beach, where he ran and supervised several after-school and
summer programs in which more than 600 children participated in the last
year.
Police said Veches, a resident of Huntington Beach, “inappropriately
touched” at least two children over the last four years he has worked
with the city.
Veches supervised programs at Mariners Park, West Newport Community
Center on 15th Street and the Community Youth Center on 5th Street in
Corona del Mar. The city intends to organize a meeting for parents who
had children in recreational programs, perhaps as soon as the end of next
week, said Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau.
Investigators have seized several compact discs with images of
partially clothed children who seem to be boys between the ages 6 and 10,
said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Shulman.
“We have dozens of images showing [Veches] sucking the children’s
toes,” he said. “But I’d like to emphasize that we’re still sorting
through several hundreds of images. There could very well be more
victims.”
The investigation was sparked when a co-worker in the recreation
division reported to a supervisor that Veches may have been involved in
inappropriate behavior with some of the children, Shulman said.
Police looked into the allegations, interviewed the people who
reported the alleged crime, and confiscated Veches’ computers in his
office, at home and his digital camera, he said.
“The investigation is still at a very preliminary stage,” Shulman
said. “We don’t know when the activity started or how many victims were
involved.”
Investigators, so far, have recovered “multiple images,” said Capt.
Tim Newman, detective commander.
“Fifty to 60 of the images seem to involve kids from our programs,” he
said. That determination was made from the background and setting of the
picture, Newman said.
Newman’s detectives are busy scanning the images for more evidence, he
said.
Veches is now suspended from his job and on paid administrative leave.
Bludau said he is “really disappointed that this happened” to a city
employee.
“We hope the investigation will define the extent of criminal
conduct,” he said. “The city will also look into what we can do to make
sure this never happens again.”
Bludau said the city already conducts thorough background checks
before hiring employees. Veches previously worked in Tucson and came to
Newport Beach with good references and a clean record, he said.
Veches has no prior convictions, police officials said.
Veches was arraigned at Harbor Justice Center on Friday. He is being
held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. A court hearing
is set for Friday.
* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at
(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .
FYI
Police are seeking those who may have more information about this case
or investigation. Anyone who has such information should call the Newport
Beach Police Department at (800) 550-6273.
Additionally, anyone with specific questions about the city’s
recreational programs may call city officials at (949) 644-3151 between 8
a.m. and 5 p.m. today, Sunday and Monday. Officials will be prepared to
help the public with answers.
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