Local High School Softball Coach Arrested on Child Molestation Charges

The head softball coach at Sunnyside High School in Fresno has been arrested and charged with child molestation. Christopher Ybarra of Fresno is accused of carrying on a sexual relationship with a female student for almost a year. Ybarra is 30-years old and has been a walk on softball coach at Sunnyside for three years, according to Fresno Police.

Police said Ybarra was arrested on Tuesday. The Fresno County District Attorney’s office has filed four felony counts against him, including lewd acts upon a child.

Senior student Gabrial Corona said about the school day on Friday, “It was really hectic. A lot of people were talking about it, some of the teachers were talking about it.”

Corona and his peers recall seeing Ybarra on campus last softball season.

“He just looked calm, like everything was okay and stuff like that,” said Ybarra.

The students said they never thought Ybarra would be charged with sexual crimes against a student.

Ybarra said, “Especially on our campus.”

 

Lieutenant Joe Gomez of the Fresno Police Department called the allegations against Ybarra disturbing.

“You gotta watch your children, you have to watch them closely,” warned Gomez.

Police claim the victim’s parents notified law enforcement earlier this month after their daughter stopped seeing Ybarra in july. Police said the relationship between Ybarra and the student began in August 2013, and there may be more victims.

Gomez said, “In this investigation, there’s possibly another student at Sunnyside, and possibly another student prior who’s now at a college in Southern California.”

Fresno Unified School District said since Ybarra was a walk on coach, he only had a contract with the school during the softball season. Once out of jail, Ybarra can’t go near any school campuses.

Micheline Golden, the spokesperson for FUSD said, “Once we were contacted and advised of the allegations, we contacted Ybarra and let him know that he cannot be on any of our campuses, nor can he be around any of our students until this matter is settled.”

As of Friday afternoon, Ybarra was in jail under a $120,000 bail.