A Bay Area golf coach was in county jail after his arrest this week on suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple girls who were his students, and police are encouraging other possible victims to come forward.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said detectives arrested Ki “Kenny” Kim, 52, of Fremont on suspicion of eight felony counts of sexual assault on minors.
Those counts were in connection with assaults that happened during Kim’s time as a golf coach at several Bay Area golf facilities, including his base at the former Country Drives Golf Center in Sunol.
According to probable cause documents filed with the district attorney’s office by Pleasanton police Officer Robert Shuffield, an unidentified 12-year-old girl came forward March 1 to report that Kim “touched her inappropriately during golf lessons.”
In a follow-up interview days later, the girl said Kim put his hand inside her pants, over and under her underwear, at least five times, and also put his hand inside her shirt but over her bra at least once.
When the girl made a phone call recorded by authorities, she confronted Kim, who “apologized several times for his behavior” at first but “[a]s the conversation progressed, Kim began denying touching” her inappropriately.
Later on, Shuffield interviewed Kim and directly asked whether any inappropriate touches occurred. “Kim responded ‘Probably not,'” Shuffield wrote. “When I asked him to clarify, Kim stated, ‘No, no … I don’t think so,’ ” before eventually denying any contact.
Kim, who was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Dublin, was being held Thursday at Santa Rita Jail on $1.1 million bail. He faces arraignment Friday at East County Hall of Justice in Dublin, according to county records.
Officials said they were encouraging any possibly affected families with information to call Alameda County Sheriff’s Det. Patrick Dolan at 510-225-5831.
Staff writer Angela Ruggiero contributed to this report. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.