Courtesy of nixle.com
By Lizzy Tsuang
Executive News Editor
Kathryn Cross
News Editor
Hermosa Beach Police Department detectives Dean Garkow and Jonathan Cruz arrested Manhattan Beach Middle School instructional assistant Timothy Lucas, 31, at 9:20 a.m. today for forcible rape and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 years of age.
Lucas has been charged for allegedly raping one of his female players 18 months ago in a private Hermosa Beach residence. It is unclear if Lucas is currently coaching the victim. The HBPD is holding Lucas at the Hermosa Beach holding jail on $200,000 bail. If Lucas is convicted on both charges, his sentence will include a minimum of eight years in prison.
“The investigation is still in progress,” Cruz said. “We’re still going over all of the evidence and putting it together to present the case to the District Attorney’s office on Friday.”
Lucas, a Cypress resident, has worked for Redondo Beach Union High, Torrance West High, Bishop Montgomery and Mira Costa High School where he coached Junior Varsity girls’ lacrosse and basketball. Last month, he accepted a coaching position for basketball at West High, though he was coaching at MBMS throughout this year.
“It appears that a minor was hurt by an employee,” Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews said. “I hate it. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.”
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