Coach Won’t Be Charged

Citing insufficient evidence, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office will not file charges against a San Marino girls basketball coach who was accused of molesting one of his players.

San Marino police arrested Patrick Gillan, 36, in December on suspicion of assault with intent to commit a felony. A former player, now an 18-year-old college student, alleged that the coach sexually molested her between June 2000 and April 2001.

Prosecutors were not able to find sufficient evidence to support the allegations, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

“There was no corroboration of the victim’s story,” she said Saturday.

Gillan, who has coached at San Marino and La Canada high schools for more than 10 years, was placed on paid leave from his job as an instructional aide at San Marino just before the arrest. His attorney, Michael Mayock, said Gillan is eager to return to work. The girls basketball season, however, is almost over for the year.

Mayock said that since his arrest, Gillan has received many calls and letters of support from parents, students and others. The coach forwarded one letter, signed by many of his players and their parents, to the district attorney’s office, the lawyer said, suggesting that it might have helped make the case that evidence was lacking.

San Marino police refused to comment and referred all inquiries to the district attorney’s office.

Mayock criticized the department’s handling of the case, saying police announced the arrest at a news conference before they had conducted a thorough investigation. “I hope someone learns a lesson from this. You can’t have a press conference and then investigate someone,” he said.