New details on Santa Cruz volleyball coach arrest
News Channel 5 has learned that Kjell Nilssen was working as a coach for the Shoreline Volleyball Club in Santa Cruz, which his wife founded.
Parents of players on the club team told News Channel 5 they were very surprised to hear about the arrest and allegations.
However even more of a surprise to parents was the fact that this isn’t the first time Nilssen has accused of sex with a minor.
This most recent investigation into the 49-year-old started weeks ago, “This current investigation came on our radar back in January of this year. A young girl and her father came over and made a report,” said Detective April Skalland.
Detectives say Nilssen met the victim in 2012 while working for Shoreline Volleyball Club.
Investigators say he was breaking the law the moment he took the job because he is a convicted sex offender.
“He was arrested and convicted back in 2001, out of Santa Clara County. Very similar to this situation where he met the girl coaching volleyball, had an inappropriate relationship with her over the computer. The 2001 case became more physical,” said Skalland.
According to California law, Nilssen was not supposed to be working with teens after that conviction and detectives say Shoreline was supposed to disclose the information to parents.
Nilssen also failed to register his address in the database, something sex offenders are required to do every year on their birthday.
“My advice to parents would be to talk to kids about what’s going on, what’s an appropriate relationship, what isn’t. Sometimes these adults are very smart and they know how to groom kids and kids wouldn’t even know, or have it on their radar that they’re being victimized,” Skalland said.
Detectives say there could be more victims, and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Nilssen was booked into the Santa Cruz County jail, but has since bailed out. He is set to be in court on February 25th.
NewsChannel 5 reached out to Shoreline for comment, but never heard back.
