Moorpark Aide Will Not Face Charges

The Ventura County district attorney’s office will not file charges against a former Moorpark High volunteer assistant football coach who told sheriff’s investigators that he supplied tablets to several players before games. Backlash from the incident, however, has prompted district officials to toughen hiring guidelines for volunteer personnel.

Larry Preston, 22, was the subject of a six-week investigation after school officials learned last month that he had given tablets to players.

Analysis of the pills showed that they were niacin and salt tablets, which are both legal and available over the counter.

“We have no evidence of any criminal action,” Patricia Kelliher, a county deputy district attorney, said Tuesday. “With what we were presented, there is nothing to indicate any law has been broken.”

After a two-week investigation that included interviews with coaches and players, sheriff’s investigators turned the case over to the district attorney in late October. Kelliher said the chief deputy district attorney concurred with her evaluation not to pursue the case.

Preston, who lives in Simi Valley, declined comment.

When Preston supplied the tablets to players, he reportedly did not specify what the tablets were, investigators said. Preston told police that by giving the players a placebo he hoped to “improve performance.”

Eleven players, who were not identified, told police that they had taken the pills. Tablet samples examined by the county drug laboratory were provided by Preston, police said.

Preston was dismissed immediately from coaching duties Oct. 13 after a meeting with school administrators, who that day had learned of the players’ allegations.

Despite the findings, Preston will not be reinstated, a district official said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate, even if it’s a placebo, to give something to a kid while implying it’s body- or mind-altering,” said Mike Slater, superintendent of the Moorpark School District.

Slater said the incident prompted the district last week to revise hiring practices regarding volunteer personnel.

“We beefed up the review process,” he said. “We now need at least three references, and they’ll be reviewed by the principal or athletic director.”

Slater declined to comment on whether the investigation would affect the status of Coach Bob Noel, who was not a suspect in the case.

Noel said he expects to return next season but declined comment on Preston’s case. “As far as I know, I’m coming back,” said Noel, who led the team to a record of 3-7 this season.

Slater said players involved in the incident will not be subject to punishment.