Girls club volleyball coach, 37, accused of having sex with player
The 37-year-old girls’ club volleyball coach, who works as a federal firefighter, is accused of producing child pornography at the fire station during a secret relationship with a 16-year-old player.
Elias David, a 2006 graduate of Kalaheo High School who played volleyball at the University of Hawaii, was charged Monday with one count of producing child pornography.
USA Volleyball temporarily suspended David on Sept. 18, 2024, stating that he received a “no contact directive” following “allegations of misconduct,” according to the U.S. Center for Safe Sport, a regulatory group that tracks personnel affiliated with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements.
He made his first appearance in federal court on Friday. If convicted, David faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison.
He was released from federal custody ahead of his trial, according to court records.
On July 12, 2024, the Honolulu Police Department received a report that a 17-year-old girl was having sex with 37-year-old club volleyball coach David. David was helping the girl prepare for her college volleyball career.
David, a family friend of the girl, had been her club coach since she was 13. The girl, referred to as “minor victim 1” in federal court records, was asked by her aunt in June 2024 about messages she found on the girl’s phone.
The girl told her aunt about David and his relationship with the aunt, and the girl’s mother filed a complaint of aggravated sexual assault with HPD.
David was also a firefighter for the Department of Defense (Federal Fire Service) and worked at Federal Fire Station Nine, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Ewa Beach.
“We filed a police report after learning that (the victim) had been having sex with volleyball coach Elias David for the last year and a half,” read the July 29, 2024 petition for a protective injunction filed by the victim’s mother. “I was informed that Elias David was arrested on 7/16/2024 and gave a statement, saying he was in love with (the victim).”
A state judge issued a restraining order against David, protecting the daughter and her sister from him until they turned 18.
On July 16, 2024, the girl was interviewed by an HPD detective at the Oahu Juvenile Justice Center. David’s wife learned of his alleged illicit affair in May 2023, according to court records.
The girl told police that after she turned 16, she started dating her coach following a volleyball club trip to Las Vegas in February 2023.
“Based on my training and experience, MV1 may have been aware that the age of consent in Hawaii is 16 and therefore did not mention sexual intercourse before that date to avoid getting David in trouble,” an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit.
The girl told police she had sex with David at the fire station where he worked, in a vacant warehouse next to the fire station, in her home and in her car.
HPD detectives investigated the scene at the warehouse across from Federal Fire Station 9.
The warehouse was abandoned, but in one of the rooms inspectors found weight-lifting equipment, basic furniture and a bed; which was “consistent with MV1’s statement that she would meet David there for sexual activity.”
MV1 said he “had to climb under the partially supported fence” to access the warehouse.
Detectives found the fence, including a supported section, “consistent with MV1’s statement.” David was interviewed by HPD and allegedly admitted to having consensual sexual intercourse with the girl.
David told police he coached children between the ages of 10 and 18.
“David stated that other underage female volleyball students had made sexual advances towards him in the past, but that he had never acted on them until MV1,” according to the FBI agent affidavit. “David stated that at some point while coaching and training MV1, David and MV1 began to develop feelings for each other and ‘fell in love’.”
He also allegedly admitted to ordering a ride-sharing service so MV1 could leave his home to meet him.
A search of the girl’s phone revealed more than 97 videos of sexual activity, including sexual intercourse.
On January 31, HPD closed its investigation and referred to the Office of the Prosecutor for prosecution.
On April 3, the case was dismissed for prosecution and referred to the FBI for “further investigation into the possible production of child sexual abuse materials.”
