4th Athletics Staffer Accused of Molesting Girl in His Care

SANTA ANA — A 23-year-old man suspected of molesting a 13-year-old girl has become the fourth staff member arrested in a police investigation into the activities of an athletic training program, authorities said Thursday.

Miguel Angel Garcia Navarro, 23, turned himself in to authorities. He appeared in Central Municipal Court Thursday and was appointed a public defender.

Last week, two other men and a woman were arrested in connection with recent allegations that staffers at the Pentathlon International Corps, an anti-drug, anti-gang alternative for youths, had engaged in sexual misconduct with one or more youngsters, police said.

Charges were dropped this week against one of the men and the woman, said Roland Rubalcava, lawyer for Jesse Moreno Huerta, who faces five counts of child molestation for allegedly engaging in sexual encounters with a minor.

Huerta, 36, commander of the athletic corps, pleaded not guilty Thursday on all five counts, contending that the charges resulted from allegations made by a disgruntled teen-ager.

“At this point, we’re waiting for whatever discoveries [investigators] will come up with so that we can plan our defense,” Rubalcava said.

Navarro, who was being held at the Orange County Jail on $50,000 bond, is to be arraigned Tuesday. Huerta was being held at the same facility in lieu of $100,000.

Investigators said there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information about the case to call (714) 647-5162.