THOUSAND OAKS : Coach Charged in Molesting of Girl
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A Santa Maria coach has been charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old female basketball player from Santa Maria during a tournament in Thousand Oaks, according to the Ventura County district attorney’s office.
Richard Zepeda, 36, was charged with felony penetration with a foreign object and misdemeanor child molestation, Deputy Dist. Atty. Patrice Davis Koenig said.
The alleged incident occurred Dec. 22, at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Thousand Oaks, where the Righetti High School basketball team was staying.
The girl reported the incident to the Santa Maria Police Department several weeks later, Koenig said.
Zepeda was arrested April 3. He is free on bail, Koenig said.
Zepeda, who is not a teacher, was suspended from his coaching duties April 4, police said.
The district attorney filed charges Tuesday.
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