Longtime Basketball Coach Accused Of Sexual Relationship With Student

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) —A Santa Ana basketball coach is behind bars over allegations he had a sexual relationship with a student.

Police say Tracey Stephan Fulford, 52, is accused of engaging in "inappropriate sexual acts" with a female student athlete at Segerstrom High School, where Fulford worked as a basketball and track and field coach.

The 19-year-old female victim came to the Santa Ana Police Department accompanied by her parents, where she told officers she had been involved in a relationship with Fulford since she was 16, according to investigators.

The victim alleges she took private basketball lessons with Fulford in which she willingly followed him into a storage room and other locations in the school gymnasium, where they would engage in inappropriate sexual acts.

According to police, the victim alleges the relationship continued past her 18th birthday, at which point the two engaged in consensual sex away from school grounds.

She told police she believes staff at Segerstrom tried to dissuade her from going public with the sexual relationship, which is why she says she reported the crime.

Officers arrested Fulford Sunday and booked on charges including child molestation and lewd conduct. He's being held on $100,000 bail.

Detectives say the 37-year coach may have additional victims and are urging anyone with information to contact Det. E. Majors at 714-245-8378, emajors@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.