Some of the victims of former Morgan Hill personal trainer David Wolfsmith, who was sentenced to seven years in prison Aug. 25 on multiple counts of felony sexual battery and other charges, sent their written “victim’s statements” to the Times for publication. Some of the statements were read aloud in court during the Aug. 25 sentencing hearing, and all of them were submitted to the court in writing.
Below are excerpts of some of the victims’ statements. The Times will not identify the victims.
Statement of ‘Jane Doe No. 1’
Being the first person that came forward for this case I believe that I was the fuse that ignited a chain reaction of oppressed and misunderstood women to forward and stand for something greater than themselves. This is a privilege that I hold very dear to my heart for there are very few women who get to know that they were able to help others in this way.
I would now like to speak directly to David Wolfsmith.
You have struck fear into my life more than any other thing, person or place- a cold and dry and bitter shock through my chest kind of fear that stuck to me and grew on me like my own skin. But I know this is what you wanted because that’s the kind of person you are. It was the kind of fear that made me wake up in a cold sweat, shaking, crying, wailing.
Your charismatic hisses and empty promises slithered into my mind and could poison even the purest souls. The four letter word- fear- that you instilled in me was misshaped and mangled by you to mimic another four letter word: love. You let me believe that the fear that I felt was love. Now, I am not ashamed to say that I did love you like a father, so you did what you know how to do best and manipulated my love so you could take advantage of me and my innocence. You were most interested in grooming me than making me into an athlete. You were most interested in seeing me without a shirt on than how depleted my body was after a bike ride. The only reason why you pretended to care about me in any way was so that you could pull me down deeper and deeper into the darkness so that even if I wanted to, I couldn’t cry for help.
I remember always leaving that room shaking and being confused, my palms being cold but sweaty, my eyes acting like a wall of a dam holding back tears, and my 16/17 year old mind being empty.
I did nothing wrong! And it is so empowering to say, you are the criminal and I did nothing wrong. You hurt us so now you’re going to pay for that.
Enjoy prison. I would also love to use some verbiage that is vulgar but I won’t do that in front of my family and friends. In anger, I would say you will never make a champion athlete because you were never made to succeed.
Now I just want to ask you, How did it become your hobby? To abuse women? Tearing apart families? Escalating from hurting women to hurting children? Did someone hurt you first? Or were you born a sick individual? Was I the first child you ever hurt? How do you get to the point to where you can stand yourself after hurting a child? You have children of your own. How could you do it? Were you ever going to stop?
With everything I have said, I am no longer afraid of you, I am no longer angry at you, and although I have never meant it before saying it today in front of you- I forgive you. I am free from you forever.
Statement of ‘Jane Doe No. 2’
Dave Wolfsmith is a human being that does not care about people. I believe he is a psychopath and a cult leader. He possesses the characteristics of both and both are extremely dangerous. He lashes out at people. He demeans people. He uses people. He insults people. He tears people down. He lies. He cheats. He abuses people. He is a human being with zero accountability for his own actions. He has zero emotions and zero feelings. He does what he wants, to whom he wants. He is a good actor.
When you first meet Dave Wolfsmith he might impress you. He might charm you. He might make you laugh. If fitness is what you are after, he is definitely good at getting you fit. No doubt, he can help get you in the best shape of your life. It’s how he goes about it that is so wrong. He draws you in slowly, sometimes over years. With me, he took almost 4 years to break me down. To change me. 4 years of him working his way into my head. 4 years of him yelling at me at 5:30 in the morning at boot camp. 4 years of him yelling at me for taking vacations with my family (vacations that were always approved of by him and worked around the WolfPak schedule and for which I had to fight for). 4 years of him telling me what a bad mom I was. 4 years of him telling me I would get fat if I ever left him. 4 years of him telling me that family obligations were not important. That my workouts were the priority. That I was not a serious athlete. 4 years of him pitting my friends against each other on the team. 4 years of lying to me about the things he said about me when I missed a workout. 4 years of telling me that staying home sick from a workout was a sign of weakness and that I was “missing the boat.” 4 years of him publicly shaming me and then praising me the very next day.
And yet I stayed for almost 2 more years after he told me to go into that massage room. I walked into that room with an uneasy feeling, but I did as I was told. Immediately he turned off the lights and closed the blinds. Although it was not pitch black, it was dark, but with enough light to see silhouettes. Just enough light to feel uncomfortable. He told me to lay down on the massage table. I had on running shorts and a sports bra. From the moment he touched me, it felt wrong. His breathing changed and the only words that came out of his mouth were “he wanted me to feel good” that “I should just feel good”. Without any warning, my face was covered with a hand towel and my shorts were pulled down. I wish I would have gotten up and left that second. But I froze. My mind went blank and I panicked. I was embarrassed. I was scared. I just laid there while he touched my body in a way he had no right to. He just kept repeating that he wanted me to feel good while he breathed heavily. It was disgusting and when it ended and I left the room, I felt awkward, uncomfortable and guilty. Even though I did nothing wrong, I was so ashamed that I never told anyone. I tried to just forget the whole thing and I never went back inside that massage room with him ever again.
I believe I stayed because the WolfPak is a cult and I had been sucked in much deeper than I realized. If you google the word “cult” you can get a lot of information. And Dave Wolfsmith is a classic cult leader. He was never wrong. He belittled everyone and anyone. There was a hierarchy of status of team members. Once you left the group, you were the enemy. No one still on the team was allowed to talk to or associate with that person anymore.
He created a guilty conscience in me for things that I should never feel guilty about. I was constantly torn between doing what I knew was right, and doing what he said was right. For example, family vacations and time with family has always been something that is of the highest priority to me. After I joined WolfPak, I was told not to take vacations. That vacations would hinder my ability to reach my fitness goals.
To talk about the verbal abuse I endured for almost 6 years as he insulted me and my parenting decisions and a multitude of other things. The psychological torture he inflicted as he picked me apart and then screamed at me and my family in front of the entire team for things ranging from what I wore to a workout, to what brand of cycling clothes I wore to what a bad group leader I was. The daily stress and fatigue he caused by his constant, ever changing, and totally unpredictable personality.
When he is eventually, and unfortunately, released from prison, I have no doubt that he will return to his gym and resume his regime. He will pick up exactly where he left off and continue to build his circle of followers. And he will have no trouble because he is so good at what he does.
He will leave prison having learned nothing. He will not admit to what he has done. He will not apologize for what he has done. He will lie, he will twist words, he will play the victim. He will say it is God’s plan for him to take this path in life. He has told me on numerous occasions that he is the “vessel of God.”
(Dave Wolfsmith) needs to be stopped and that is why I came forward in this case with my story. Had I come forward years ago, perhaps the two minors involved in this case would not have had to go through what they went through and are still going through. I ask that he never be allowed to train in any capacity ever again. He should not ever be able to be put in a position of authority with anyone ever again. As a registered sex offender for life, this will make it harder for him to resume business, but I ask that more restrictions be put in place. I ask that he serve the maximum amount of time with no early release possible. I ask that he be closely monitored by the authorities once he is released.
I know for a fact that there are many more (victims) out there who remain silent. Some of them I know personally. Some of them I have only heard their stories through friends. Either way, he needs to be stopped now and in the future. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me and allow me to share some of my story.
Statement of ‘Jane Doe No. 3’
We weren’t allowed to have conversations with others to know that we were all feeling the same. Lies were made up about other teammates to reinforce the belief that you were the only one that should be trusted. Conversations with other teammates where you made up lies about them: for example, not wanting to ride with me and vice versa – pitting each of us against one another to establish that you were the only one to be trusted. What I felt wasn’t important – all I was supposed to do was to ‘trust you’ and just show up’. That was your regular mantra. “I am the expert and the all knowing” – and after you hear that everyday, sometimes several times a day one stops thinking and just does as they are told.
Your own feelings of grandiose and self-importance – self-exaggeration of your skills and knowledge with nothing to back them up – only with fear and intimidation.
What has brought us here today is your sentencing: the attitude and behavior of entitlement and lack of respect for another person other than yourself. A calculated rouse under the umbrella of a team whereas you could draw people in: Takes sexual advantage of members in a cult – which this was.
The inappropriate touching while lifting weights – hidden behind a sense of entitlement – I am the coach so anything goes. You have an exaggerated sense of power (entitlement) that allows him to bend rules and break laws which is exactly why we are here today: Me and many strong women in this room had the courage to stand up to your unlawful behavior therefore you are going to prison for many years.
Anyone who criticizes or questions you is called an “enemy.” And when someone left the ‘team’ they were berated to the rest of the team for months on what horrible people they were and how dare they leave. Everyone who leaves will be a failure in your mind.
You made it a habit to put down others as inferior and only you were the superior one.
You tried to take away the freedom to leave, to travel, to pursue life: I took vacations – I took wonderful vacations with teammates and was told what a failure I was for doing that – I will never amount to anything because I didn’t have the commitment to WolfPak. My teammates don’t want anything to do with me because I am not committed to the team.
Spring of 2014 was one of the most difficult times for me personally. As I was dealing with the highs and lows of menopause I was dealing with some other challenges. It was on one of those very hard days where I was in the gym in the middle of the afternoon doing cardio – because if I didn’t get cardio done, I was a failure in your mind. No one was in the gym and I chose that time for that reason alone. I remember riding and you walked up behind me and grabbed me at my waist which sent me jumping off the bike. You laughed it off –I was not humored.
I needed to come in for an afternoon weigh in – why not in the morning? I needed time with you alone you said. Per your instructions: it was the initial weigh in and we would do it every week. I came in dressed in running shorts and a top – measurements were taken – this alone was very uncomfortable – I was told to remove my top – I had a jog bra on but when you proceeded to forcibly take my arms and put them out to the side and took a tape measure and wrapped it around my chest – and then proceeded to walk behind me and pull my shorts completely down as I stood there in shock – you continued to say ’it’s ok I’m the coach… I completely froze while you continued to put a tape measure between my legs –“to measure my thigh ‘is how you put it – all while I am standing there paralyzed – you then came from behind and unhooked my bra – ‘to measure your chest’ – There was no asking me, there was no question as to whether I wanted to do this only – do this because I am the coach and this is the only way I can help you reach your goals. I stood there embarrassed and frozen until you finally left the room and I was able to dress.
The last time I went into that office and the last day I was at the gym under the facade was January 2016. I went into the office specifically telling you not to walk in because I wanted to weigh in by myself. Your lying response was ‘I promise’. The door was locked but I was in there finishing up and again you disregarded my request and walked in anyways. I was in my sports bra and shorts. Again – you told me to stand and you pulled my arms out to the side – and proceeded to wrap your arms around the front of me under my chest from behind and say – ‘you know most of the women in this gym have had breast implants, have you considered having surgery? I know everything about what happens in here and can get someone to talk to if you’d like.’
I walked out of the gym and never returned.
In my opinion the sentence was not nearly harsh enough especially because of the amount of victims that have been affected and knowing full well that this is only the tip of the iceberg – I know many people that couldn’t come forward and make a statement. As you yourself said, ‘I‘ve been in this business for over 20 years.‘ I am sure there are others that you preyed upon. For those other victims, I am sorry but I hope that our coming forward gives them some peace that you have been stopped.
Unidentified victim statement
Our family joined Wolfpak for the most wholesome of reasons. Our kids liked to run and it sounded like a great family activity. Dave Wolfsmith was the coach – the high school Cross Country and Track coach also. What a great combination.
Dave was so attentive and nice…charismatic… at first. He coached us on eating habits. We went to boot camp, and went on bike rides. Friends outside of Wolfpak would say “you’re drinking the KOOLAID”. I heard stories and warnings of abuse from ex-members, but it didn’t add up to me at the time.
We were losing weight, running faster, and making great friends. That’s when things started to change. When we showed progress, the mind control began. Expectations were put in place.
-Expectations to attend every workout, and if you miss one, there is hell to pay. Sickness and social events were not excuses for missing a workout. Attending your children’s soccer or basketball game instead of a workout was not allowed. In fact Dave told me several times that my kids’ recreational soccer and basketball activities were stupid. I’d have to listen long drawn out lectures about this regularly.
-Eating at restaurants was not allowed, and would make you swell, gain weight, and make you slow. Members of the group would not eat downtown in fear of Dave finding out.
We followed his plan, because he knew what was best. He knew more than doctors, Dave would say regularly. He knew our bodies better than we did.
Dave was scary and controlling. He made me and other teammates cry regularly. The workouts were so hard I threw up during them sometimes. We became isolated from our other friends and family. There was no time. Dave was controlling our lives.
I remember the one time I went into the massage room. It was a hard boot camp that day, and I ran around this courthouse parking lot in the morning while it was still dark. I ran so hard that my hamstring pulled. Dave seized the opportunity, and told me to come back later in the morning to “work on the hammy”. I went. We were alone when I got to the gym, and he led me into the massage room. He massaged my hamstrings, and then massaged my buttocks in a very unsettling manner. I remember it so clearly, still. I didn’t dare say anything, because I knew he’d get mad at me. He made it clear on several occasions that he knew what I needed better than I did. I left that day feeling violated. I never complained of muscle strain again, and I went to a REAL massage therapist in the future. Not once has an actual massage therapist touched me like Dave did. I didn’t talk about it for years.
My deepest regret was letting Dave around my children. Once the initiation phase was over, he became mean and controlling them too. This was especially becoming evident with my daughter, who was one of his “favorites” at the time. He’d require her to attend boot camp before school, then return to the gym after school. I’d go to pick her up and wait, and wait, for her to come out. It was not my place to interfere. My influence as a parent was being overridden. Values I worked so hard to instill in my children were being erased. Dave told the children these things regularly:
-Athletics are more important than academics. School is not important and cross country comes first.
-Athletics will get you into college, not grades and test scores.
-Track and cross country were the only sports that matter. The other school sports and clubs were stupid and a waste of time.
-Do not take advanced classes, it takes away from training time and is a waste of time.
I’ll never forget the day several of the Sobrato High School Cross Country girls came to me after practice, crying hysterically. Dave had singled student athletes out and humiliated them in front of their peers during one of his raging lectures. A sampling of what he said:
-Dave told another team member “If you’re not going to race well, then do you want me to deport you to back to a third world country and you can weave baskets the rest of her life?”. Dave said this to the only African American on the team.
-Dave told the girls cross country team: “The team’s success depends on how the team captain performs. If the captain is slow, then the team is slow. If the captain is fast, then the team is fast. The girls cross country team is the lowest it’s been, ever. Now, raise your hand if you think she (the captain who had gained five pounds) should get back in shape.” Dave then stood there, powerful to the powerless, and waited until everyone raised their hand.
-One of the boys on the team was blind, and asked a question about an upcoming race. Dave’s response was to hold the race itinerary flyer up in front of his face and in front of his peers and yell “can’t you read this”?
I have deep regret for letting this monster manipulator into our lives. He preys on children and women. The day that I heard he put his hands on a child, I fell to my knees.
Based on my observation of Dave’s behavior, I believe that Dave is a master at mind control, a psychopath, and a danger to society. He controls through fear and manipulation and lies. He leaves a trail of destruction in his path.
Unidentified victim statement
I returned to the Wolfpak in the spring of 2006 through January of 2016 because my fitness started suffering and wanted to get back to where I was. Things were better initially, but the constant lectures were still happening and Dave would frequently say things to all member that “we didn’t’ know what we needed and only he did”, “we were bad parents if we didn’t put the Wolfpak above everything” and would even be called a piggy if we gained weight. We were never allows to talk during workouts without being called out in front of the rest of the team. If we gained weight, Dave was on us and took less interest in us if we did not reach the goals he had set for us. I became brainwashed by Dave and tried my hardest to reach these goals – some were successful and others not much as it showed in the quality of my workouts when he would spend less time with me and more time with other clients.
As I started to reach my goals, Dave became more interested in me because he was seeing the results he wanted. This would include forced frequently weigh-ins and measurements with little to no clothes on. I was told to take my pants off and flex so he could see the results of my glutes and would tell me they are looking round. He would also make me lift my shirt above my sports bra so he could see the results of my abs. He would at times even take pictures of my results. This became uncomfortable for me, but I did it because most of the girls were expected to do this, and did not feel I had the power to say no without repercussion. Specifically, Dave would alter the quality of my workouts and thus affecting my results. A few of my sessions even turned into inappropriate touching that were disguised as massages where I was asked to take off my pants. I informed some of the other women on the team about this and one told Dave and his response was that I didn’t know what I was talking about. It is clear to me now that Dave’s motivation was not to improve my fitness level rather he was getting sexual gratification from his clients.
It’s now been over a year and a half since leaving the Wolfpak and I am much happier with my new team, training with friends and enjoying my workouts all while have fun. Unfortunately, the thought of having to be at a certain weight and appearance still affects me. The predatory practices of this sexual deviant have caused me to have trust issues that affect me daily in my work and personal life. I am hoping that by surrounding myself with healthy positive people and building on my self-confidence, I will eventually be able to worry less about my weight and appearance and more about my general happiness.
Unidentified victim statement
After I realized that I was being coached by a fake coach without a license and a man who abuses others (as well as uses power for financial and personal gains) – I started to observe.
I observed jealousy, purposeful obstruction. I understood that my success was owned by my consistency, chosen lifestyle, behaviors, and the hard work I put forth. This was contrary to what was being preached and repeatedly reinforced by David Wolfsmith. He would have me believe that without him I would be nowhere and no one (as what I was before I joined-per David Wolfsmith).
I observed undercutting. I observed the attempt to sabotage my races and take claim for my success-and over and over point at perceived failures and what I did wrong.
I learned 4am workout times meant something different than just being a hardcore athlete.
I learned to stop going to special workouts that entailed heavy leg day.
I learned that “next level” meant beware.
I learned every athlete paid a different price for the same manipulation.
I learned he took advantage of women in the “cat like” position on the bench press bench.
I learned that the massage room was only for him and females.
I learned DW controlled every aspect of the encounters in the massage room.
I learned if you objected in the massage room, you were now against DW’s style of training.
I learned to run my own race. I learned to train outside of his control. This also kept me outside of his good graces and I was achieving the space I so needed to remove myself from his control.
I learned to accept my success and failures as my own.
I learned I owned unhealthy and self-destructing behaviors that were influenced by DW.
I learned I owned self-doubt and beliefs were installed through manipulation and consistent brainwashing, by DW.
I learned to recognize these parts of me.
I learned I could rise above all things taught and learned more-I became my best coach.
I learned I could help other women by sharing the patterns I observed. These were the same patterns I shared with prosecutors.
