Capo Teacher, Longtime Youth League Coach Is a Child Molester, Police Say

A 48-year-old Spanish teacher at Dana Hills High School and longtime youth league coach is in jail today following accusations of child molestation and possession of child pornography.

Barragan coached baseball in junior high schools, high schools and youth leagues for the past 20 years, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jeff Hallock.

Police arrested Ezequiel Barragan Monday on suspicion of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 14 and possession of child pornography. He was booked into Orange County Jail and is being held on $500K bail, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The arrest came the same day the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF) was notified by a United States Postal Service (USPS) agent regarding an ongoing child pornography investigation, Hallock said in an emailed statement. “Barragan has been the target of a USPS investigation resulting in discovery of information that he also engaged in sexual relations with a male juvenile over the last two years,” according to Hallock.

“Over the last 20 years, Barragan has been involved in coaching youth baseball at various (youth)* and senior Leagues as well as at the junior/high school level,” Hallock said. “Barragan has volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Children in Orange County for the last several years, having access to numerous juvenile males.”

Anyone with additional information regarding additional victims is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s (714) 647-7418 or (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

Barragan is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

*Due to a source error, an earlier version of this article inaccurately identified Barragan’s youth league affiliation.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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