Former Coach Guilty of Rape, Abuse of Student
- Share via
A former Canyon High School girls basketball coach pleaded guilty Wednesday to raping and abusing a student and was sentenced in a Santa Ana court to eight years in prison.
Michael Anthony Watson, 41, of Orange will have to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison, officials said.
The assaults began in October 2001 and continued for two years. Watson, who was going through a divorce, moved in with the girl and her family for about a month and worked at the same grocery store as the girl.
The girl called police when Watson choked her because a teenage boy had asked for her phone number, officials said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
