Ex-High School Coach Sentenced for Sex With Student Athlete, 16

A former Placentia high school coach who had sex with a 16-year-old girl on his basketball team was sentenced Thursday to 90 days either in jail or under house arrest.

Garret Yoshina, who coached girls’ basketball and boys’ baseball at El Dorado High School, was 30 when he began seducing the girl five years ago through e-mail, said Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Heidi Garrel. The two talked four to five times a week over the Internet via instant messenger.

The conversations seemed innocent at first, Garrel said, until the two began playing a game they called “How well do you know me?” The girl asked Yoshina if he thought she was attractive, and he said yes. Yoshina eventually suggested she come to his house, Garrel said.

Between June and December 2000, Yoshina picked the girl up from her home and brought her to his house, where they would have sex.

The victim, now 21, told police about the relationship in March 2005. She said she was concerned that Yoshina might be harming other students, Garrel said.

Police arrested Yoshina, now 35, in April.

He was working at a Placentia elementary school. Garrel said he had not returned to work since his arrest.

The incident is one of a spate of criminal teacher-student relationships that have recently come to light.

On Jan. 6, a former Orange middle school teacher was sentenced to six years in prison for having sex with three of her male students, ages 12 and 13.

Yoshina pleaded guilty to one felony count of oral copulation with a minor. A judge will decide in two weeks whether Yoshina can serve his three-month sentence under house arrest. In addition, Yoshina will be placed on three years’ probation and must register as a sex offender. He is prohibited from working with minors.

Police did not find other victims, Garrel said.

“These types of case are much more disturbing in that somebody in a position of authority is taking advantage of somebody that looks up to them and trusts them,” Garrel said.

“This is an adult who knows better than to get involved with one of his students.”