Affidavit: Plano baseball player told 5-year-old to keep sex acts ‘a secret'

An arrest affidavit spells out what a little girl says a highly recruited baseball player from Plano High School allegedly did to her. Much of what she says happened at the home-day-care run by the teen’s mother is too graphic to share.

In the arrest affidavit, a 5-year-old girl describes what she says Zachary Holifield did to her. Defectives say he confessed to three instances of sexual contact. However, his attorney is pleading with the public to not make a judgment on this case until all the facts are out.

The 17-year-old was the star pitcher for Plano Senior High School and committed to play at Oklahoma State University next year. He was an imposing 6'5" left hander with what appeared to be a bright future in baseball.

Holifield was arrested on June 20 and is being held in the Collin County jail on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact. He's accused of assaulting at least one child he knew through the day care his mother operates out of her home.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the parents of a 5-year-old girl told police Holifield “picked her up and took her in to the bathroom" where she was forced to perform a sex act. The victim allegedly went on to say “she probably should not have told about Zack because it was supposed to be a secret."

The victim also allegedly stated "Zack used to pick up… another young child and student, and take her into the bathroom also." The second student no longer attends the daycare, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit also stated the alleged sex acts went on for at least two years, with the victim telling police it started "when she was 3 years old, and he does this when Mrs. Kelley is away."

"Mrs. Kelley" is Holifield's mother.

Holifield's family hasn't commented, but close friends have rallied behind them.

“This cannot be true. Something is obviously wrong here. This is absolutely, positively not something Zach would do,” said family friend Jana Sewaiseh. “He just has amazing character. He's never, ever been in trouble.”

Sewaiseh's daughter had been classmates and friends with Holifield from elementary school forward.

"He did have a great future ahead of him,” she said. “Hopefully, he still does."

Holifield's attorney, Pete Schulte, released a statement that reads in part, "The information, as written by Plano PD investigators, is not what it appears to be. Therefore, I respectfully ask that the public withhold passing judgment until all the facts are known."

Schulte has requested a bond reduction hearing for Holifield that will be heard on Wednesday.

Holifield is currently being held on a $600,000 bond.

Detectives said they believe they have identified a second victim and are investigating whether there could be more victims.