Wake prosecutor says there's photographic evidence against swim coach charged with sex crimes

During his first court appearance on Friday, a prosecutor said she was concerned about the amount of access he has had to other children.

Nicholas John Walkotten, 32, of 713 Seastone St., in Garner, is charged with indecent liberties with a child and a statutory sex offense with a child under the age of 15.

The incidents took place on June 1 and Aug. 1, according to an arrest warrant.

"I would like to let the court know we have both photographic evidence, and we have a confession," Wake County Assistant District Attorney Katy Pomeroy said.

Prosecutors said they also have evidence that Walkotten tried to destroy evidence in the case.

"There is a text message chain between the victim and this defendant in which he does encourage her to delete a lot of their correspondence," Pomeroy said.

Walkotten was an assistant swim coach for the Marlins of Raleigh Swim Team for the past three years, but the head coach told WRAL News that he was fired two weeks ago, when allegations of misconduct surfaced. The head coach also confirmed that USA Swimming suspended Walkotten's membership.

According to his Linkedin page, Walkotten was previously a swim coach at UNC-Wilmington, and before that with the YMCA of the Triangle.

He was a swimmer in college at the University of South Carolina and Indiana University.

He competed in NCAA championships, Olympic trials and represented the United States at the World Championships in 2008, according to a UNCW release when he first joined the school.

Walkotten was being held on a $1.5 million bond.