High School Coach Faces Trial on Sex Charges

A high school coach accused of committing lewd acts with three students was ordered Thursday by a court commissioner to stand trial on six felony counts.

Abel Ramirez, 35, is charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, committing a lewd act with a child and three counts of sexual battery by force.

One count of attempted forcible sodomy was dismissed at Thursday’s preliminary hearing in San Fernando Municipal Court.

Ramirez is set to be arraigned July 15 in San Fernando Superior Court.

Neither Ramirez nor his attorney could be reached Thursday.

Ramirez allegedly molested three male students, ages 15 and 16, over a two-year period, police said.

Ramirez allegedly had sexual contact with the students at off-campus sites. Police said Ramirez coached two of the boys on the junior varsity baseball team.

According to detectives, the students said their relationships were consensual until Ramirez began to threaten them, prompting them to report the abuse to their pastor and their parents.

Ramirez was arrested March 30, and has been free on a $50,000 property bond since April 21.

A San Fernando resident and 1982 alumnus of the school, Ramirez began working at the campus as a clerk in 1986.