A 37-year-old women’s club volleyball coach who served as a federal firefighter has been accused of producing child pornography at his firehouse during a secret relationship with a 16-year-old player.
Elias David, a 2006 Kalaheo High School graduate who played volleyball at the University of Hawaii, was charged Monday with one count of production of child pornography.
USA Volleyball temporarily suspended David on Sept. 18, 2024, and issued a “no-contact order” following “allegations of inappropriate conduct,” according to the US Center for Safesport, which tracks people associated with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sports.
He made his first appearance in federal court on Friday. If convicted, David faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison.
He was released from federal custody pending trial, according to court records.
On July 12, 2024, the Honolulu Police Department received a report that a 17-year-old girl had a sexual relationship with her 37-year-old club volleyball coach David. David is helping the girl prepare for her college volleyball career.
David is a family friend of the girl and has been her club coach since she was 13 years old. In June 2024, the girl, identified in federal court records as “Minor Victim 1,” was questioned by her aunt about messages she found on the girl’s phone.
The girl told her aunt about her relationship with David, and the aunt and the girl’s mother filed a felony sexual assault complaint with HPD.
David also served as a Department of Defense (Federal Fire Service) firefighter and worked at Federal Fire Station 9 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Ewa Beach.
“We filed a report with the police after we discovered that (the victim) had been having a sexual relationship with her volleyball coach Elias David over the past year and a half,” reads the protection order petition filed by the victim’s mother on July 29, 2024. “I was informed that Elias David was arrested on July 16, 2024 and made a statement in which he stated that he was in love with (the victim).”
A state judge issued a restraining order against David, protecting the girl and her sister from David until they turn 18.
On July 16, 2024, the girl was interviewed by HPD detectives at the Oahu Children’s Justice Center. According to court records, David’s wife discovered his alleged illicit relationship in May 2023.
The girl told police she started dating the coach after a club volleyball trip to Las Vegas in February 2023, after she turned 16.
“Based on my training and experience, MV1 likely knew that 16 was the age of consent in Hawaii and therefore omitted mention of a sexual relationship prior to that date to avoid getting David into trouble,” an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit.
The girl told police she had sex with David at the fire station where he worked, an empty warehouse next to the station, his house and his car.
HPD detectives conducted a crime scene investigation at the warehouse across the street from Federal Fire Station 9.
The warehouse was abandoned, but in one of the rooms, investigators found weight lifting equipment, basic furniture and a bed “consistent with MV1’s statement that she would engage in sexual activity with David there.”
MV1 stated that in order to gain access to the warehouse, she had to “climb under a partially supported chain-link fence.”
Detectives found barbed wire, including supporting sections, “consistent with MV1’s account.” David was interviewed by HPD and allegedly admitted to having consensual sex with the girl.
David told police he tutored children between the ages of 10 and 18.
“David stated that other underage female volleyball students had sexually harassed him in the past, but that he had never taken any action against them until MV1,” according to the FBI agent’s affidavit. “David stated that 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 rideshare for MV1 so she could leave her home to meet him.
A search of the girl’s phone revealed more than 97 videos of sexual activity, including intercourse.
On January 31, HPD concluded its investigation and authorized the prosecutor’s office to file charges.
On April 3, the case was denied prosecution and referred to the FBI “for further investigation into the possible production of child sexual abuse material.”
