Bail reduced in Oakdale soccer coach sex case

MODESTO -- A judge on Friday reduced the bail amount for a 44-year-old Oakdale soccer coach accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl after she fell asleep at his home, where police say he provided alcohol to minors.

Timothy Lyman has been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and oral copulation of a person younger than 18. He remained in custody Friday at the Stanislaus County Jail.

When Lyman was booked Monday, his bail was set at $100,000. When he appeared for his arraignment hearing Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Susan Siefkin increased his bail to $200,000.

Friday morning, Judge Marie Silveira reduced Lyman's bail to $50,000 based on the normal bail amount for such charges, the fact he has no previous criminal history and his ties to the community make it difficult to leave the region to avoid prosecution.

Had the charges listed a victim 14 or younger, the judge could have decided to set Lyman's bail at a higher amount. The alleged victim is identified as "Jane Doe" in a criminal complaint filed Wednesday.

Lyman appeared in court for Friday's hearing with Deputy Public Defender Sonny Sandhu. The defendant has said he wants to hire a private attorney but has not been able to do so.

Deputy District Attorney Annette Rees is prosecuting the case.

Lyman is suspected of having sex with the girl Dec. 27 when she fell asleep after a party at his home in the 1100 block of H Street, where he furnished alcohol to a small group of minors, according to Oakdale police. Police have said all were asleep in the house when Lyman entered the room the girl was in and started having sex with her.

Lyman is the girl's coach for a traveling soccer team, but police would not say which team or what soccer league. It is not affiliated with Oakdale High School or the Oakdale Youth Soccer League.

Each charge Lyman faces, if convicted, could result in a maximum sentence of three years in jail or prison. A sentence for the first charge, unlawful sexual intercourse, could be served in county jail, while an oral copulation charge requires prison time, prosecutors say.

Silveira scheduled Lyman to return to court Feb. 1 for another pretrial hearing.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or (209) 578-2394.