Secret meetings between a high school coach and the 13-year-old student he's accused of molesting occurred at school, in his car and through FaceTime and SnapChat, according to the official complaint.
Edward Aaron Mendoza, 27, has denied numerous charges related to an alleged ongoing inappropriate relationship with a female freshman at Mar Vista High School.
Mendoza is the third adult to be accused of an inappropriate relationship with a Mar Vista HS student in the same week. Sweetwater Union High School District officials described Mendoza as a walk-on assistant football coach.
Now NBC 7 News has learned that several of the 20 felonies Mendoza faces stem from incidents at school, according to the complaint.
Five counts accuse Mendoza of lewd acts with the student while she was at school. Four counts involve the victim allegedly touching the defendant’s penis while at school according to the complaint. Two of the counts involved kissing on school grounds.
No details were provided on when the incidents occurred or how the defendant had access to the freshman student while she was at school.
In November, Mendoza drove the victim home from school, according to the complaint, and allegedly touched the girl inappropriately during the car ride.
On December 5, the defendant is accused of lewd acts with the victim when the two were alone in a car outside a Quinceneara.
The defendant is also accused of sending inappropriate images and video through several social media sites.
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Mendoza communicated with the teenager through live session via FaceTime as well as images and clips sent via SnapChat, the complaint alleges.
He also directed the girl to touch herself during live video sessions through SnapChat, investigators allege.
It is illegal for an adult to persuade a child under the age of 18 to participate in sexual conduct in any format of video.
San Diego County District Attorney Carolyn Matzger said Mendoza began the relationship in September 2015 when the freshman was 13 years old.
The relationship came to light in February when the victim's father learned his daughter was talking to Mendoza on the phone for long periods of time, San Diego County Sheriff's officials (SDSO) said Tuesday.
Mendoza was held on $900,000 bail. A protective order was issued. He will appear in court on May 26 for a preliminary hearing.
He could spend a maximum of 20 years and eight months in prison if convicted of the charges.
Anyone with information about this case can call the Sheriff's Child Abuse Unit at (858) 974-2310. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 with information. You may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to a felony arrest.
