Veches talks of ‘obsession’ in transcripts

Deepa Bharath

A former recreation coordinator, accused of sucking the toes of

several boys enrolled in the city’s after-school programs, told

police last year that he had become “addicted” to looking at

children’s feet and had developed an “obsession,” but that there was

nothing sexual about that fixation.

“What this boils down to is that I have a problem,” 32-year-old

Trenton Veches told Newport Beach Police Det. Tom Monarch, according

to transcripts from a taped interview at City Hall on April 17, 2002,

the day Veches was arrested.

“For some reason, guys’ feet don’t do it,” Veches is quoted in the

transcript. “I am definitely attracted to women’s feet, and

obviously, I have a problem with kids’ feet.”

But Veches consistently said during the interview that he never

sucked the toes or touched children’s feet for sexual gratification.

“God, it’s not, it’s not, it’s not honestly a sexual thing,” he

told Monarch. “It’s more like just something that was just you know

fun, playing with the kids.”

Veches said he treated the boys like his own brothers.

“I never looked at them as a sexual object,” he said.

He admitted he “likes feet” and feels like a “total freak.”

“I mean, yeah ... I enjoy their feet and I enjoy playing with

their feet,” he said. “It’s definitely not a sexual gratification,

but does it bring me pleasure? Yeah. I don’t think it’s sucking on

the kids’ feet that gives me pleasure. It’s just being with the kids,

playing with the kids, interacting with the kids that brings me

pleasure.”

During the interview, Veches initially denied having any child

pornography at home. But later, during the conversation, he admits to

it.

“It’s an obsession, it’s a problem that I have,” he told Monarch.

“Maybe you can help me.”

The “pornography thing” started two years ago, Veches said.

“I think what’ll shock you guys is how big my collection is,” he

told Monarch, who was getting ready to search Veches’ Huntington

Beach apartment. “And that scares me because I have basically saved

everything I’ve seen for the past two years.”

Veches’ attorney John Patrick Dolan had said last week that his

client was eager to testify in his defense. But Veches did not take

the stand.

Dolan said the taped interview with Monarch, which was played in

court, was evidence enough to show Veches’ intentions to the jury.

“He says time and time again in that interview,” Dolan said. “It

was not sexual. It was not sexual.”

Dolan said in his closing arguments that Veches denied it being

sexual more than 50 times during that interview.

Prosecutor Sheila Hanson, however, argued that Veches was

“vacillating” during the interview.

“First he said he was just wrestling with the kids,” she said in

court. “Then he admits he was obsessed with feet. First he says he

has no child pornography in his house. Later, he admits to having it

in his home computer.”

Veches faces 25 felony counts of lewd act with minors. He pleaded

not guilty to the felonies, but pleaded guilty to possession of child

pornography, which is a misdemeanor. If convicted of all charges, he

faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The jury will continue with deliberations Monday morning.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at [email protected].