Community college instructor charged with human trafficking of student

The Contra Costa County district attorney has charged a Diablo Valley Community College communications instructor with nine felonies involving human trafficking, pandering, pimping, and other allegations related to using force while engaging in sexual acts, according to a statement issued Tuesday.

One of the alleged victims is a student at the college, the East Bay Times reported.

Kyle Lee Whitmore, 39,  of Crockett, is being held without bail after his arrest on Sept. 7,  a spokesperson for District Attorney Diana Becton said in the statement. Whitmore is an instructor at the college in Pleasant Hill. He is also the school’s track coach. Diablo Valley is part of the Contra Costa Community College District.

Whitmore is an instructor of communication studies and has been the school’s track coach since 2014. He was formerly a coach at Hercules High School, also in Contra Costa County. The district has placed him on administrative leave and removed his online profiles as both an instructor and a coach.

Prosecutors charged him with two counts of human trafficking, two counts of pandering, one count of pimping, and four counts of forcible sexual penetration with a foreign object. His arraignment was postponed on Tuesday. He is next expected in court on Sept. 19.

According to the district attorney’s statement,  prosecutors allege that Whitmore trafficked two victims to commit crimes of prostitution. The first victim — referred to as Jane Doe No. 1 — told authorities at the college about her situation. A follow-up investigation by college police and the county sheriff’s office led to Whitmore’s arrest.

Details involving a second alleged victim were not immediately available.

In a statement to the newspaper, district spokesperson Tim Leong said the college district “is “devastated by the seriousness of the allegations that have been raised thus far. The safety of our students and staff is our main priority. We take seriously any accusations of inappropriate behavior by our employees and honor the expectation that our students, staff, and visitors have to be safe when they visit our campuses.”

The district attorney’s office asks that members of the public who have any additional information about the case contact the investigation division at the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office at (925) 313-2600.