John Gouveia, Former USA Softball President, Arrested for Crimes Against Children

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday the arrest of 61-year-old John Gouveia. Gouveia was taken into custody in April, though the official announcement was issued on July 5th.

Charges against Gouveia included eight counts of lewd lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, according to local media reports. Gouveia was released on $250,000 bail on April 14th, the same day he was initially booked into the Alameda County Jail.

Gouveia worked with USA Softball from 1991-2019, including in the capacity of Commissioner for Northern California before ascending to the role of the organization’s President. He departed the latter role in 2019.

Local media reports indicated that the sheriff’s office said that the victim in the case was not associated with USA Softball, nor with Gouveia’s previous job with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District.

USA Softball released a statement on Tuesday night:

“USA Softball has become aware of allegations against a former volunteer officer of USA Softball, John Gouveia. The individual has resigned from all positions with USA Softball and currently holds no role or responsibility within the organization. After learning of these allegations for the first time today through local media outlets, USA Softball has reported the allegations to the U.S. Center for SafeSport and to Sacramento County Child Protective Services. USA Softball has no independent knowledge of the allegations and is aware only of the information that has been released in local media stories.

“Law enforcement authorities have stated that the allegations against this individual do not concern any prior role or activities relating to USA Softball. 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 is committed to creating and upholding traditions of excellence in softball by building and maintaining a supportive environment in which youth athletes may grow, develop, and prosper. To ensure such an environment, it is the policy of USA Softball that there shall be no abuse, either physical, mental, emotional, or sexual, of any participant involved in any of USA Softball’s programs. USA Softball will not tolerate abuse of any kind in its programs.”