San Ramon police have arrested the head wrestling coach at California High School after investigators were informed of an illicit relationship between the coach and a minor child.
Kevin Lopez, 27, of San Ramon was taken into custody Tuesday evening, police said Wednesday. Officers took the coach, who also serves as youth group leader at San Ramon’s New Life Church, to the Main Detention Facility in Martinez. He is being held there on $750,000 bail.
Officers served the search warrant at Lopez’ home after an allegation surfaced of an alleged relationship with a child more than 10 years younger than the coach. Both the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and officials at New Life Church are reportedly cooperating with police. It was not known if the alleged victim in the case was connected in any way to Cal High or the New Life Church, which has venues in both San Ramon and Alamo.
Lopez was hired at California High School in 2005, serving as an assistant coach until his promotion to head coach in 2012, school district officials confirmed. His arrest was the second to rock the San Ramon Valley in recent weeks, with Diablo Vista Middle School math teacher Mitchell Wolf, 58, arrested for aggravated possession of child pornography Aug. 22.
Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact San Ramon police Detective Rob Ransom at rransom@sanramon.ca.gov.
