Alain Salas, Fremont High School Girls' Volleyball Coach, Arrested by FBI for Alleged Sex Crime

By Dennis Romero Tue., Feb. 14 2012 at 1:51 PM

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Alain Salas

Updated at the bottom with a few more details from the FBI and a possible Facebook connection to the case. First posted at 6:40 a.m.

It seemed like a week or so could go by without another sex abuse arrest of an L.A. Unified School District employee.

Nope.

KTLA News this morning reports that a Fremont High School girls' volleyball coach and teacher's aide, Alain Salas, was arrested by ...

... the FBI on Monday.

The accusation?

"Sex crime involving children," says the TV station.

It's not clear if the victim or victims were students at Fremont, which is in South L.A.

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LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy was on KNX 1070 Newsradio this morning answering questions about the arrest. He said he was essentially kept in the dark about the FBI's investigation and had "no information" about Salas' case.

"We had a whole era" where sex-crime allegations weren't discussed, he told KTLA, but "this administration -- we act on it."

The arrest comes in the wake of the Miramonte Elementary School scandal in which two teachers have been arrested for alleged sex crimes.

Allegations involving ex-Miramonte teacher Mark Berndt, included in a 23-count case against him by the District Attorney's office, are disturbing.

Two other LAUSD staffers, including a teacher at Hamilton High School in South Robertson, and a janitor at Germain Elementary School in Chatsworth have been arrested based on similar allegations.

Another ex-LAUSD teacher, Paul Chapel, had been arrested last fall, but his situation was only revealed recently by the district. The instructor at Telfair Elementary in Pacoima was charged with sexual abuse and lewd acts on children.

[Update at 1:51 p.m.]: The FBI said its multi-agency SAFE task force, which investigates sex crimes against children, was looking at Salas and made the arrest. It says the L.A. County District Attorney is expected to file charges against him. Here's part of the bureau's statement, sent to the Weekly and other outlets:

On Monday, 2/13, members of the FBI's SAFE Team (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) made a probable cause arrest of Alain Salas, 40, a resident of Los Angeles, and an employee of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Salas is currently being held on suspicion of violating section 288.3 of the California Penal Code: contact with minor with intent to commit a sexual offense.

He's expected in court tomorrow but was being held until then.

Fox 11 News' Gina Silva teased an upcoming report on the case via Twitter, saying:

Facebook is the real reason the LAUSD Fremont coach was arrested by the FBI.. Full story tonight with all the detailed chats. Exclusive.

Strangely, his Facebook page contains this quote:

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

FBI, Fremont High School, LAUSD, Miramonte, sex crimes

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Jenn_bunny8

It takes two to tango, but this coach IS AN ADULT, plain and simple. There is nothing else about it. Whether the girl consented or not is not the issue, he is the adult in the situation and should of known better. Stop blaming the girl, she did nothing illegal, HE DID. She is definitely guilty of making a poor decision, BUT he took advantage of her youth and should be punished. Sticking up for someone who is in charge of supervising young girls and has crossed a line like this one, is not noble whatsoever. Regardless if you played for him or not.

adrala.

The girl could've easily said no.. yes he's a grown ass man. So what .... honestly if he got caught up ... I guess he fucked up ... teenage girls can be very persistent ... and joke around too heavily... in my case I never did.. Alain used to coach me back in 08 but if someone is being blamed ... don't simply say he did this and that .. the girl is also at fault for not understanding he's a part of the school staff and you basically don't do thank kind of stuff if you have any morals... teens seem to get worse over the years... so far... so do teachers.

Guest

I've known Salas for about 15 years and he was my softball coach and now my friend as an adult. I am heartbroken he is portrayed as monster all over the news and on the web. Granted, I don't approve of what he Is accused of doing but like the saying goes, it takes two to tango. The girl may be 15 but she knew what she was doing. Ive seen the way those high school girls dress to school, wearing small skirts or extra small shirts. Girls now a days want to grow up so fast that they flirt with other men, they like the attention. Unfortunately, for Salas he got caught up in a really stupid unnecessary situation and he made a decision with his other head instead of using his best judgement. Point being is that we all make mistakes and I think Salas did a big mistake but that doesn't classify who he is a person.

What is this world coming to

They are both stupid n ignorant! Her for being a whore n him for falling for it! Smh... Who is the 15 yr old running after next her math teacher??? I wonder what are her parents thinking?? Having a slut as a daughter lol

TheTruth

Salas was my coach as well, He never tried anything on me or my friends and we played for a team outside of school were he was also our coach......I really wish is not true, but people change as years go by and some people can make idiotic choices sometimes.....He is an adult and should have thought about it twice before writing something that was not appropriate for a minor...If they arrested him is because they had enough evidence..Even if he thought it was all fun and games or if he was playing around...If this was my 15 yr old daughter I would be pissed the f@&$ off that a 40 yr old man was texting or inboxing her stupid shit! Regardless, I wish the truth comes out and they give more details on the evidence that they say that they have against him.

Joshnix

first learn how to spell before you talk about free coach salas so what if she is fifthteen he is a grown a$$ man and that $hit ain't right .what if that was your daugther you would take salas side cause he was your coach for 3yrs and he's not like that but you know what lock his a$$ up I went to fremont c/o 97 he was also my football coach in 94 still lock his a$$ up throw away the key

Free Coach Salas

coach salas is not thattype of person he was my coach for 3yrs1/2 n the never had any problems with no body that 15 yr oldgirl knew watshe was doin girls that age knoe was up it wasnt all his fault that girl wanted 2 get money off of him knowing he was having problems with his wife n trouble to c his kids the b*t*h took advanage of the situation.....FREE COACH SALAS

Thesmithsfan

wow that kind of people will never end

Rob in la

if this guy is a teachers aide, he would be considered a non certificated personnel. why then would Fremont administrators hire him to coach young females without at least the supervision of a certificated and qualified personnel? is that legal? any policies on non certificated staff being in sole supervisionvig so many young girls and if so aren't the admin also responsible for this lapse of, if nothing else, common sense?