VENTURA : Schools Reveal Claim Involving Ex-Coach

Ventura school officials on Wednesday made public a legal claim that alleges that they “took no action to prevent” a former Ventura High school coach from sexually abusing a teen-age girl during a seven-month relationship.

The girl and her family have filed the claim against the Ventura Unified School District, the county of Ventura and former football coach Harvey Kochel for “sexual harassment, abuse and battery,” as a necessary step before filing a lawsuit in court.

The girl was 15 when she began sexual relations with the 48-year-old football coach last year.

Kochel was sentenced last month to two years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a minor.

According to the claim, the family accuses school officials of being aware of and investigating Kochel’s alleged sexual harassment of other female students, but taking no action and permitting Kochel “to remain in a position that allowed him to continue” sexual misconduct.

School district officials declined to comment.

Initially, they had refused to release a copy of the claim, but did so after The Times argued that it was a public document under the California Public Records Act.

Court documents and testimony at Kochel’s sentencing hearing revealed that female students had complained about sexual advances from the coach for more than 10 years, but no serious disciplinary action was ever taken against him.

School district officials have also refused to release information about an investigation into how the school handled previous sexual harassment complaints against Kochel.

Supt. Joe Spirito said a verbal report was given in closed session to school board members Tuesday, and no written report exists.