A outstanding highschool water polo coach in California was convicted of sexually assaulting 9 teen women throughout coaching periods, all whereas their unsuspecting mother and father sat poolside.
On Wednesday, jury discovered Bahram Hojreh, of Irvine, responsible of twenty-two felony counts after a five-week trial, together with fees of sexual battery, sexual penetration and lewd acts on a toddler. The jury additionally discovered him responsible of easy assault in connection to one of many unnamed victims, the Orange County Register reviews.
Outstanding Water Polo Coach Discovered Responsible Of twenty-two Felony Counts Following 5-Week Trial
Prosecutors stated the 46-year-old “touched their breasts, twisted their nipples, touched their genitals above and under their swimsuits and digitally penetrated them underwater throughout teaching periods.”
The disgraced coach reportedly informed the younger ladies that each one of this was essential to “toughen them up for competitors,” in response to prosecutors.
The victims ranged in ages from 13 to 17 on the time of the incidents, which occurred between 2012 and 2017.
Defendant Bahram Hojreh listens to opening statements throughout his trial in Orange County Superior Courtroom in Santa Ana, CA on Monday, October 3, 2022. (Photograph by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register through Getty Pictures)
Hojreh denied the allegations whereas testifying in his personal protection, claiming his former athletes have been a part of a “conspiracy” in opposition to him.
John Barnett, Hojreh’s protection lawyer, even went as far as to accuse the younger ladies of mendacity, the Orange County Register reviews.
Poolside Mother and father Have been Completely Unaware As The Sexual Abuse Took Place Simply Ft Away
The coach led the Worldwide Water Polo Membership in Los Alamitos, California, and in addition coached at Kennedy Excessive College in La Palma.
The sexual assaults reportedly befell throughout coaching periods at a pool situated on the Joint Forces Coaching Base in Los Alamitos.
The victims’ mother and father, who had attended the coaching periods, have been fully unaware as Hojreh molested their daughters mere ft away.
Protection lawyer John Barnett delivers his opening statements throughout trial for Bahram Hojreh in Orange County Superior Courtroom (Photograph by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register through Getty Pictures)
“My coronary heart breaks for every one among these victims and for his or her mother and father who did all the things they may to assist their kids obtain their athletic desires and as a substitute needed to study the painful fact, that their daughters had been molested proper in entrance of them – and there was nothing they may do to guard them,” Orange County District Lawyer Todd Spitzer stated.
Spitzer went on to say “fortunately, these courageous women had the braveness to talk up concerning the abuse and prevented extra women from being molested.”
Embellished Water Polo Coach Instantly Taken Into Custody After Wednesday’s Responsible Verdict
The outlet reviews that the women started confiding in one another concerning the abuse in 2017, nevertheless mother and father weren’t notified till a yr later.
Upon studying of the abuse, the households promptly reported the assaults to police.
Hojreh, who skilled over 100 All Individuals and led upwards of ten groups to the nationwide championships, is now banned for all times from taking part in occasions affiliated with USA Water Polo, in response to the Orange County Register.
He had remained out on bail through the trial, however was instantly taken into custody after Wednesday’s responsible verdict.
Hojreh is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12.