A former girls’ high school and club basketball coach was convicted this week of sexually assaulting four young girls he coached.
The Office of the District Attorney Todd Spitzer of Orange County said in a news release that Carlos Francisco Juarez, 48, of Costa Mesa, was found guilty by a jury Tuesday of 10 felony counts of lewd act upon a child under 14, seven felony counts of lewd act upon a child and two felony counts each of oral copulation of a minor under the age of 16 and sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor.
"He robbed these young girls of their innocence – and he victimized girl after girl until he finally got caught," Spitzer said in a statement.
Juarez was arrested in April 2019.
Juarez primarily coached for club basketball teams, including So Cal Swoosh and O.C. Mustangs, but also worked at Aliso Niguel, Costa Mesa, Mater Dei and Tustin high schools.
He coached each of his four victims at some point between 2005 and 2010. In 2005, one victim — who was 11 years old at the time — took private lessons from Juarez at a gym in Tustin where Juarez had the girl practice topless after he initially sought to have her remove all her clothes. He is also sexually assaulted the girl after a practice and then giving her an envelope of money, according to Spitzer's office.
Another victim testified that she was promised more playing time in exchange for engaging in sex acts. Juarez's victims ranged in age between 11 and 17 years old.
Juarez was convicted of sexually assaulting three more of his young players, including moving into the home of a 13-year-old girl where he continued to engage in repeated sexual abuse. The abuse continued for more than four years.
Juarez was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl he was also coaching during private basketball lessons in 2008, and forcing a 13-year-old basketball player to perform a sex act on him in exchange for the promise of becoming a starter.
"Coaches are entrusted to help student-athletes be the very best in their respective sports – not to groom or exploit them for their own perverted gratification,” Spitzer said in a statement. “These young women will forever bear the trauma of being sexually assaulted by someone they should have been able to trust."
Juarez is facing a maximum sentence of 150 years to life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 9, 2023.
