Coach Pleads Not Guilty in Molestations

A former volunteer coach at Estancia High School pleaded not guilty Thursday to five counts of felony sexual violations involving two teenage boys, authorities said.

Robert Allen Harrington, 55, was arrested in August after Costa Mesa police searched his Mesa Verde home for sexually explicit material that he is accused of showing to the boys, ages 15 and 16, police said. Charges filed by the district attorney’s office Thursday include committing a lewd act and oral copulation with a minor.

Harrington denied the allegations during his arraignment later that day.

School officials, who had barred Harrington from coaching at the school until the matter was resolved, said Thursday that the decision was made permanent.

Harrington had volunteered at Estancia for about five years and had a reputation for impressing on football players the importance of academics, school officials said at the time. Harrington’s son, Michael, also a volunteer football coach, has since taken a leave of absence.

If convicted, Harrington faces a maximum of five years and eight months in prison. He is free on $50,000 bail.