The former assistant football coach at a South Bay school was sentenced Nov. 9 to five years in state prison for molesting a 14-year-old girl.
Probation was denied for Edward Aaron Mendoza, 27, who was ordered by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle to register as a sex offender for life.
“Probation is not appropriate. He was double her age at the time he met her,” said Haehnle, who added that Mendoza committed “a violation of trust” of her parents and Mar Vista High School.
Haehnle also ordered Mendoza to stay away from the victim for 10 years. He was fined $2,734, and given credit for 424 days in jail.
Mendoza was one of three people arrested this spring on sex charges who worked for the Sweetwater Union High School District.
Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Matzger read a letter from the girl’s parents to the judge. She said the victim fears social events, has difficulty sleeping, and has been bullied. He said Mendoza contacted the girl via late night video calls “to avoid detection.”
Matzger said Mendoza met the girl at age 13 while “only a month into high school.” She said Mendoza claimed the girl appeared older than that, and he was blaming the victim for his crime. “He is not remorseful,” she added.
Mendoza’s attorney, Euketa Oliver, disputed that, saying he was “apologetic and remorseful since Day One.” OIiver said Mendoza pleaded guilty so she wouldn’t have to testify in court.
Oliver described the contact with the girl “as an isolated incident,” and his behavior did not involve sexual intercourse. She asked for probation with a year in jail. The prosecutor requested the 5-year prison term.
Mendoza pleaded guilty to three counts of fondling the girl and inducing her to send a photograph of a body part online. Sixteen other sex charges were dismissed.
Martin Gallegos, 49, a former substitute teacher, was sentenced Sept. 23 to one year in jail on terms of three years probation for unlawful sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl. The sheriff’s department said his projected release was set for March 23, 2017.
Alejandro Rodriguez, 21, a former tutor, will be sentenced Jan. 3, 2017, after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a male 16-year-old student. Rodriguez worked for another agency which contracted with the Sweetwater District. He remains free on bond.
