A baseball and softball trainer in the Inland Empire has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl, and authorities believe there could be other victims.
John Anthony Ayala, 39, was arrested on Friday on charges of stalking and annoying or molesting a minor, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
According to authorities, Ayala, a Colton resident, is a “self-employed training coach” who formerly worked at F1 Training and Inland Peak Performance, both baseball and softball training facilities in San Bernardino.
Inland Peak’s website lists Ayala as a co-founder of the facility, though search results also revealed an Instagram post from Inland Peak offering “a Fond Farewell to John Anthony Ayala,” who is described as “a truly special part of our Inland Peak Performance and Wellness family.” It’s unclear when Ayala left Inland Peak.
In December, deputies received a report that Ayala “was sending inappropriate text messages to a female juvenile” and learned that he’d “followed the victim and intentionally showed up in places he knew she would be.”
Authorities seized “multiple electronic devices” and believe there could be other victims.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Deputy T. Houn at 909-425-9793.
To report information anonymously, call 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or visit wetip.com.
