Youth Referee Accused Of Sexual Misconduct
And investigators say there could be as many as 50 victims and witnesses from the past 20 years.
The case came to light when the Lake Stevens School District got a call about a wrestling official. A 16-year-old wrestler from Skagit County told his coach that the official had been giving him drugs in exchange for sex for the last two years.
Now, 39-year-old Eugene Brian Garvie is under arrest, accused of using his position as a wrestling official to prey on student athletes.
He's been an official for 17 years, officiating matches for the USA Wrestling Club. The league is not connected with any school district, but draws many high school athletes in the off-season.
According to court documents, a 16-year-old wrestler from Lake Stevens told his principal that Garvie had given him alcohol and made sexual advances toward him. After talking with students and parents, the principal concluded this may have been going for 20 years.
"If Mr. Garvie had any contact with a student or family, now is the time to contact the Snohomish County Sheirff's office," said Arlene Hulten of the Lake Stevens School District.
The athlete from Skagit County told police that Garvie gave him cocaine, meth and other drugs in exchange for sex and posing nude.
The 16-year-old said he saw naked pictures of another teen on Garvie's laptop.
Police arrested Garvie at his manufacturing business in Everett and confiscated his computer. According to police reports, he confessed that he met one of his victims at a wrestling tournament when the boy was just 10.
Garvie admitted to having at least 20 to 30 wrestlers at his house over the years -- probably more -- and giving many of them alcohol and drugs. Garvie is being held in the Snohomish County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
He was booked Thursday for investigation of sexual misconduct with a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and providing a controlled substance to a minor.
Detectives say they are sure there are more victims, and they want to interview at least 50 other boys and young men.
Garvie told police that if one victim ever told anyone, Garvie would kill himself, and police say he tried to do just that.
Corrections officers have placed Garvie on a suicide watch.