Charges filed against Berkeley coach for sexually harassing young swimmers

BERKELEY – A Bay Area swim instructor’s alleged sexual assaults of young boys continued for more than a year before he was arrested last week, according to court records and authorities.

The suspect, 25-year-old Tyler Livingston of Emeryville, was charged with alleged assault on five boys under the age of 10.

Police in Berkeley, the lead investigation agency, and Emeryville, where Livingston lived, believe there are more victims and are urging them to come forward. Berkeley police said they have interviewed other potential victims but have not yet asked prosecutors to file additional charges.

Livingston was charged Friday with 11 counts, including seven counts of lewd acts with a child under 14, sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child 10 years of age or younger and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, records show.

He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance with a firearm and manufacturing or selling a large capacity magazine after an unregistered firearm and suspected cocaine were found in his 40th Street apartment in Emeryville during his arrest on July 11.

He pleaded not guilty and was being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail. A judge denied his request for parole Monday and a bail hearing was scheduled for Friday.

Berkeley police began their investigation on June 23 after two boys, ages 6 and 9, reported “lewd and lascivious acts” by Livingston toward them that “occurred while the children were taking swimming lessons at the pool,” records say.