A former volunteer wrestling coach from Westview High School has plead not guilty to molestation charges and other accusations, including rape by foreign object, sexual battery, committing a lewd act on a minor, false imprisonment and attempting to dissuade a witness. The offenses are believed to have occurred in February. Police began investigating after a girl came forward last month.
The man, Ryan Paul Carnell, could face over 9 years in prison if he is convicted. While Carnell was already out on a $125,000 bail, the judge in the case raised the bail amount to $500,000 and Carnell was led away from court in handcuffs. Carnell’s San Diego criminal attorney, Stephen D. Klarich, has not made any statements about the not-guilty plead.
Carnell is already awaiting sentencing in a similar trial where he was found guilty of sending a photograph of his penis to a teenage girl.
To read more about the case, see the article on Sign On San Diego.