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A former Orange County basketball coach was sentenced to 150 years in prison to life in prison for sexual assault committed against girls he was coaching, authorities said.
Carlos Francisco Juárez, 48, a resident of Costa Mesa, was found guilty of 10 felony counts of lewd act against a child under 14 years of ageseven serious crimes of lewd act against a child, in addition to other more serious crimes committed against minors.
The former coach he was arrested in April 2019 and in July 2023 he was found guilty by a juryaccording to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
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According to the authorities, the four victims who were attacked by the former coach they were between the ages of 11 and 14 when they were sexually assaulted between 2005 and 2010.
Reports say Juárez coached club basketball teams, including the SoCal Swoosh and OC Mustangs. The defendant also worked at Aliso Niguel, Costa Mesa, Master Dei and Tustin high schools.
According to court documents, Juárez was accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old victim in 2005 who was taking private lessons at a Tustin gym.. After the attack he gave her an envelope with money.
The former coach was also found guilty of moving into the home of a 13-year-old girl, whom he repeatedly sexually abused for more than four years.
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The defendant also committed sexual assaults against a 14-year-old girl to whom he gave private classes in 2008, and also was found guilty of forcing a 13-year-old girl to perform lewd acts in exchange for a promise that he would make her a headline.
“This coach was in a position of trust and authority over these young women and took advantage of them,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said.
“Youth sports should be a safe environment where neither parents nor athletes should worry about children being targeted by a sexual predator. As a result of these young victims’ bravery speaking up, another child molester will be behind bars for the rest of his life and will no longer be allowed to take advantage of innocent children,” the prosecutor added.
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