Crime & Safety
Mira Costa High School Basketball Coach Pleads to Child Molestation
By pleading no contest to committing a lewd act on a child, a forcible rape charge was dropped against the Manhattan Beach coach.
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA -- As his trial was underway, a former Manhattan Beach high school basketball coach pleaded no contest today to committing a lewd act on a child in Hermosa Beach.
Timothy Lee Lucas II, 34, was immediately sentenced to two years in state prison and given credit for time he had already served behind bars, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Five other counts against him, including forcible rape, were dismissed as a result of his plea, according to Santiago.
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Lucas -- a former girls' junior varsity basketball coach at Mira Costa High School -- was charged last year. Prosecutors said then that the crimes occurred between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28, 2014.
Prior to the trial Lucas' attorney claimed the girl’s mother made up the allegations against his client out of revenge after Lucas broke off their relationship, the Daily Breeze reported.
Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Lucas had been offered a head coaching job at West High School, pending approval by the Torrance Unified School District, but lost that job because of the allegations, the Daily Breeze reported last year.
Lucas has also worked at Manhattan Beach Middle School in Manhattan Beach, Torrance West High School and Bishop Montgomery High School, according to Higgins.
City News Service
