‘I am afraid for my son’: Parents outraged as East Bay swim coach moves for release to Pleasant Hill while child molestation case is pending

OAKLAND — Prosecutors here say they have identified two new alleged victims of an accused serial child molester who worked as a swim coach, nanny and babysitter around the Bay Area, court records show.

Tyler Livingston, 25, of Emeryville, now faces 15 felony counts alleging he molested six boys, all younger than 10, and that he possessed an unregistered firearm and cocaine. He has been behind bars at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin since his arrest last month. But he is now moving for release to his parents’ home in Pleasant Hill, arguing that jail officials are poisoning him with eggs and milk and that a strict court order can ensure he won’t have access to children while out of custody.

Parents of the boys Livingston allegedly molested said their families can’t ever feel safe with the suspect out of the custody.

“I am afraid for my son … I am terrified that there is a possibility that Tyler will be released on bail,” the father of a 6-year-old boy wrote in a letter asking a judge to keep Livingston in jail. “Tyler knows how to find my son … I write this letter so that when my son is scared, I can tell him the bad guy is locked away, the good guys are helping.”

Livingston was initially charged with molesting four boys. The investgation began after a parent of two boys who took swim lessons from Livingston witnessed one of his sons sitting on Livingston’s lap in a hot tub, authorities said.

The boys reported that Livingston inappropriately touched them under their bathing suits, according to authorities. After news of his arrest was widely reported, two more boys disclosed to their parents that Livingston had molested them too, according to prosecutors.

When police came to Livingston’s home with a search warrant, he allegedly failed to answer the door and the officers broke it down. Inside, they found an unregistered firearm in a safe, three baggies of cocaine and boys underwear, prosecutors said in court records.

Livingston’s motion for release from jail is set to be heard Tuesday afternoon by Alameda County Judge Kimberly Colwell. In it, the defense is asking he be released to his parents’ home on Hillcrest Street in Pleasant Hill, and that he be equipped with a GPS monitoring device.

The defense is arguing that the confines of jail make it too difficult for Livingston to assist in his defense, and that strict conditions — as well as his parents’ supervision — will ensure he won’t come into contact with minors. The motion also argues that Livingston is “in grave risk” at the jail because his “dietary restrictions” are not being honored.

“Despite his lacto-vegetarian status being noted on his records at the facility, Tyler continues to receive milk and eggs in almost every meal — which he is gravely allergic to,” defense attorney Valery Nechay wrote in the motion. The attorney later added: “The only conclusion remaining is that someone is intentionally contaminating Tyler’s food … This result is tantamount to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the 8th amendment.”

Livingston’s parents filed letters of support referring to their son as a “trusting, honest, non-violent and morally upright person” who was an “A+ student” in high school. They also lauded his work as a youth advocate, swim coach and nanny, noting that he “bonded with the kids he helped.”

Prosecutors, and alleged victims’ parents, have countered that Livingston is a potential flight risk as well as a danger to the community.

“At our last swimming lesson (June 2024) he mentioned to me his intent to move to Paris shortly,” the mother of a 7-year-old alleged victim wrote in a letter to the court. She later added, “This is a very, very dangerous man who works his way into families under the guise of being a clean cut and well-spoken professional. He fooled my husband and I both.”