USA Softball President Charged with Underage Sex Offenses
John Gouveia
A Castro Valley man is expected to make a court appearance next month to face 8 felony counts of sexual acts with a child under 14, officials announced last Tuesday.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office released a photo of 61-year-old John Gouveia along with arrest information because it said it was in the public’s best interest to release the information at this time. A Sheriff’s Office spokesperson declined to comment further because they are still actively investigating his multiple lewd lascivious acts with a minor.
Gouveia was initially arrested on April 11 and booked into Alameda County Jail. He was arraigned on April 18 in Sacramento Superior Court. His next court date is on August 11.
The case has gained wider interest because Gouveia worked for the national governing council for girls’ softball in the United States between 1991 and 2019, which included him traveling both nationally and internationally as Commissioner of USA Softball of Northern California and the President of USA Softball.
Gouveia also worked with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District for 25 years until he retired as the General Manager in 2016.
“The victim stemming from this arrest was not associated with USA Softball or the Park District and investigators are not implicating the organizations,” a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said.
After learning of these allegations, USA Softball said it reported the information to the U.S. Center for SafeSport and to Sacramento County Child Protective Services. In a statement, the group said it has no independent knowledge of the allegations.
“The alleged conduct is contrary to and not aligned with USA Softball's mission and core values, which include developing and administering the sport while providing the best possible experience for all those involved with the game of softball,” USA Softball said in a statement.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s said despite Gouveia’s pending court date that they on conducting an ongoing criminal investigation. They ask that anyone with information regarding the investigation contact their Child Abuse Bureau at (916) 874-5191.