Carlsbad Coach Loses Job in Plea of Molesting Girl

Carlsbad High School basketball coach John Nelson pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor child molestation, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing two felony counts of having sex with a 16-year-old female student.

Nelson, who by virtue of his guilt loses his job as a teacher and coach, will return to court April 14 for sentencing. He faces a maximum of one year in local custody.

“There was some inappropriate contact between my client and the young lady--enough that renders this plea bargain as being in his best interest,” Nelson’s defense attorney, Richard Muir said.

Nelson met the girl because she was a recent arrival to the school and enjoyed basketball, Muir said. “It was a good, friendly relationship and one thing led to another,” Muir said. “He accepts responsibility for it.”

Standing before Vista Municipal Court Judge Michael Burley, Nelson swayed nervously and nodded his head forcefully--but was barely audible--as he answered a series of questions admitting his guilt.

Nelson, 46, was originally charged with forced oral copulation and digital penetration involving the student. Each of the two charges, alleged to have occurred off-campus Oct. 15, were felonies and each carried a possible maximum sentence of three years in state prison.

The single charge of child molestation, a lesser offense which occurred off-campus Oct. 17 and to which he pleaded guilty, still requires Nelson to register himself as a sex offender, authorities say.

The investigation into Nelson was sparked by the father of the victim, who turned to Carlsbad police. When the district attorney’s office pressed charges, Nelson was placed on leave in January.

The school’s basketball team, which was 6-6 to that point, has since gone undefeated in all 14 Avocado League games and one playoff game in his absence.

Nelson is married and the father of a grade-school-age daughter. He has taught for 19 years in junior high, high school and college, usually in health and physical education.

Carlsbad school administrators declined comment on the case and referred an inquiry to the school district’s attorney, who was out of state and could not be reached for comment.

Nelson is the second North County educator to face sex charges in recent weeks. Fallbrook High School band teacher Kevin McLean is awaiting a preliminary hearing on charges he had sexual intercourse with two students, a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old.