Local News in Brief : Coach Files No-Contest Plea in Molestation of 8

A47-year-old soccer coach pleaded no contest Friday to sexually molesting eight of his players in his Van Nuys apartment from June, 1984, to April, 1985.

In an agreement with prosecutors, Steven Crawford Smith pleaded no contest, the legal equivalent of a guilty plea, to eight counts of oral copulation and lewd conduct involving the boys, who ranged in age from 6 to 11.

In exchange for Smith’s plea, Deputy Dist. Atty. Linda B. Greenberg said her office would drop another 14 counts against him.

Smith, who coached for the California Youth Soccer Assn. at Delano Park in Van Nuys, could receive a maximum of 17 years in prison when he is sentenced March 21 by Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Darlene E. Schempp.

Smith was arrested last April after the parents of one boy called authorities to report that their son had been molested. That boy told police of another child who had been sexually abused, and he told of still others.

Investigators said it was common practice for team members to spend the night at Smith’s apartment, with their parents permission.

Smith is free on $25,000 bail pending his sentencing.