Former Century High School volleyball coach Omar Rojas, 28, has been arrested on accusations that he had 3 minor teenage girls who were members of the team in 2015. Rojas was also employed as a school safety officer in the Santa Ana, California school district. The victims were identified as two 17-year-old girls and one 15-year-old-girl.
He was arrested and charged on Tuesday with four counts of oral copulation of a minor, sexual penetration by a foreign object of a minor, five counts of unlawful sex with a minor three years younger than the perpetrator, and 1 count of statutory rape. All 11 counts are felonies.
Police interviewed another potential victim on Tuesday, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertanga said. Police are also contacting students on subsequent teams to see if they can identify more victims.
“He would have the victims excused from class to meet them to engage in sexual activity on campus during school,” Bertagna alleged. He was not yet a school safety officer in 2015.
“These allegations are being taken seriously and are in direct conflict of the district’s zero-tolerance policy relating to staff misconduct, in which all district employees are held at the highest ethical standards,” according to a statement from the district. “In the days and weeks ahead, we will work closely with the Santa Ana Police Department on this investigation.”
Rojas is being held on $1 million bail.
We found no evidence that Rojas coached any USA Volleyball teams or that he was a member of USA Volleyball. He has not been added to the US Center for Safe Sport’s banned list, which typically happens quickly for USA Volleyball members after arrest on accusations of child abuse.
Victims or anyone else with information about these crimes are asked to contact Detective Nick Vega at (714) 245-8368, or email [email protected]. Orange County Crime Stoppers also accepts anonymous tips at (855) TIP-OCCS.
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