By Lizzy Tsuang
Executive News Editor
Kathryn Cross
News Editor
Manhattan Beach Middle School instructional assistant Timothy Lee Lucas appeared in the Torrance municipal court on June 5 following his June 3 arrest.
At his court appearance, the prosecutors charged Lucas with six felonies, including three counts of lewd acts upon a minor, one count of sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor and two counts of forcible rape of a child victim. Until his next court date, Lucas will be held at the Castaic Pitchess Detention Center on $500,000 bail.
“Based on the investigation, the charges and bail are fair and generally typical for these kind of cases,” Hermosa Beach Police Department Press Information Officer Sergeant Robert Higgins said. “By law, we are not allowed to release past criminal records; however, we have had similar cases like this in Hermosa Beach.”
HBPD detectives Dean Garkow and Jonathan Cruz took Lucas into custody on the MBMS campus on June 3 after the victim of the alleged crime filed a report to HBPD a week prior. According to Higgins, the crime occurred 18 months ago in a Hermosa Beach residence with one of Lucas’ former female basketball players.
“I don’t know why the victim waited to report the rape,” Higgins said.
Lucas has worked as an instructional assistant and basketball coach at schools throughout the South Bay, including MBMS, Redondo Beach Union High School, West Torrance High School, Bishop Montgomery and Mira Costa High School last year where he coached junior varsity girls’ lacrosse and basketball.
“We will be cooperating with the HBPD, but the investigation is in its early stages,” Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews said. “Safety is our highest priority.”
According to Higgins, Lucas will plead not guilty to the charges at his July 14 court appearance. If he is convicted, he could face a maximum of 32 years in prison.
“Serious criminal cases like this can take many months, even years to adjudicate,” Higgins said.
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