The 39-year-old Lake Stevens man allegedly traded in sex and drugs with teenagers.
By Scott Pesznecker and Jim Haley
Herald Writers
LAKE STEVENS – A longtime wrestling referee is under investigation for trading sex and drugs with perhaps dozens of teenage wrestlers he befriended in Snohomish and Skagit counties.
Eugene Brian Garvie, 39, of Lake Stevens, was arrested Thursday at his business in Everett.
He’s being held in lieu of $250,000 bail, jailed on suspicion of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, giving drugs to a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Detectives believe Garvie had an ongoing sexual relationship with a Sedro-Woolley High School student, starting when the boy was about 15 years old, court documents said.
In addition, “Garvie admitted to having at least 20 to 30 different wrestlers over to his residence over the years and probably more, “documents said. “He said he gave some of them (drugs) and alcohol.”
Detectives believe Garvie made sexual advances toward a Lake Stevens High School student in the fall after the student was served alcohol at Garvie’s home, according to documents.
School officials heard rumors about the contact and investigated, Lake Stevens School District spokeswoman Arlene Hulten said.
When questioned, the 16-year-old student denied any impropriety, she said, and the matter was not reported to police.
The current investigation got under way after an 18-year-old Lake Stevens student told school officials he had been at Garvie’s home April 20 when Garvie had attempted suicide. The suicide attempt apparently was triggered by a disclosure of Garvie’s alleged relationship with the Sedro-Woolley student, documents said.
Garvie told investigators he met the Sedro-Woolley teen at a USA Wrestling Club tournament in Everett, documents said. Police alleged the wrestling official supplied the teen with cocaine and the painkiller hydrocodone when the younger man was at his residence.
Garvie has been a certified United States of America Wrestling Association referee since 1989.
The association is not connected with school wrestling programs, although many high school wrestlers continue to compete at association meets to hone their skills during the offseason, Hulten said.
Garvie allegedly told deputies he took nude photos of the Sedro-Woolley boy in Lake Stevens. Investigators believe the images were saved on a digital camera’s removable memory card.
Garvie also is under investigation for allegedly having sexual contact with a now 15-year-old boy, whom he also reportedly photographed, documents said. The teen has been found but not interviewed, police said.
Deputies have served three search warrants in connection with the case, including at least one each at Garvie’s home and his Everett business, documents said. Officers seized numerous items, including computers and a camera memory card.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or [email protected].
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