Richmond: Youth golf coach charged with possessing 600-plus child porn files

PINOLE — A local resident who taught kids how to play golf has been charged with possessing more than 600 files containing child sexual abuse material, and is set to be arraigned next week, records show.

Jeffrey Oda, of Pinole, was charged with a felony count of child pornography possession. Notified of the charge after returning from a vacation in Hawaii, Oda has agreed to surrender to police ahead of his first court appearance next week, authorities said.

Oda has taught youth at the Richmond Golf Club and Pinole Valley High School, according to police investigators who reported that the investigation started after they received two tips of suspicious activity from two different social media companies. Authorities raided Oda’s home, seized his electronic devices and allegedly found hundreds of child pornography files.

A message to members of the Richmond Golf Club says that police determined Oda’s alleged crimes did not involve students and were limited to online activity. Authorities say that appears to be true, though the investigation remains active.

Oda has been suspended and the club is in the process of firing him, multiple law enforcement sources told this news organization.

“This is an unprecedented situation for our Club, and we want to assure you that we are treating it with the utmost seriousness,” the club’s message says. “We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and have already taken several steps that we believe are necessary given the gravity of the allegations.”