A Santee gymnastics coach accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage gymnast entered a not guilty plea to charges against him Thursday.
Patrick Wehrung, 25, attended his arraignment as a free man, out on bond. However, he left in the custody of court officers after the judge declared him a flight risk because he faces seven years in prison. The judge ordered he be taken back to jail on a $80,000 bail.
The defendant denies the 12 charges against him, which include statutory rape, oral copulation and penetration by a foreign object.
For more than four years, Wehrung worked as a boys’ gymnastics coach at Champion Gymnastics and Cheer in Santee, where the victim is a gymnast.
Deputy District Attorney Nicole Roth said Wehrung carried on a sexual relationship with the 15-year-old girl that spanned one month, starting on Dec. 19.
On four occasions, Wehrung allegedly picked the girl up and took her to La Jolla Shores to engage in sexual activity, Roth said.
Wehrung was fired from his position on Jan. 22 and arrested on Feb. 9 after the girl’s parents called investigators, San Diego Police say.
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During the arraignment, the judge ordered Wehrung to stay away from the girl. The teen is expected to speak about their alleged relationship at his preliminary hearing, scheduled for April19.
