Crime & Safety
Former JSerra Coach Charged with Sex Crimes
Ricardo Aldana, a former Spanish teacher and coach, is facing seven felony counts of performing lewd acts on a 14-year-old girl.
A coach who was fired after he was arrested in December for allegedly having sex with a former student, was charged Friday with engaging in unlawful sex acts.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office announced it was charging with seven felony counts of lewd acts on a child. If convicted, he faces seven years in prison.
At the time of the crime, Aldana was a Spanish teacher and boys’ soccer coach at the school. According to the DA, he met the student when she was 13.
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“He is accused of befriending the victim and gaining her trust,” a DA press release states.
The DA describes a sort of courtship. After the victim turned 14, Aldana allegedly massaged her shoulders inappropriately over her clothes while they were alone in his classroom. He is accused of continuing to groom the victim by frequently exchanging text messages and speaking with her on the phone.
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In September 2011, the DA alleges, Aldana visited the victim at her home while her mother was out of town. He then drove the victim to his Dana Point home.
The DA said Aldana purposely slipped the girl into his bedroom to avoid being seen by his roommates. It is there he allegedly committed the unlawful sex acts.
Aldana then returned the girl to her home at about 4 a.m.
Like other responsible media, Patch's policy is to not identify under-aged potential victims of abuse. The girl is represented by attorney Vince Finaldi, who said his client is ready to testify, if necessary.
"This is a pretty extraordinary 14-year-old. She has nothing to hide. She did nothing wrong," Finaldi said.
He added that he and his client are grateful for the thorough investigation the Orange County Sheriff's Department conducted and that the DA's office has "decided to do the right thing and charge him."
The investigation began when an out-of-state honors academic camp instructor became suspicious after overhearing statements by the victim to other students, according to the release.
Many JSerra students, meanwhile, have started to support their former teacher. The newest one is called Aldana Inspired Me. Another, Free Aldana, has 619 likes.
Anyone with additional information or is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.
