California STARS academy coach charged with six counts of molesting 15-year-old athlete

Prominent Orange County youth sports coach and trainer Chris Flores was charged Monday with six counts of molesting a teenager, using his position of “trust and confidence” to commit the crimes, a complaint filed by the Orange County District Attorney alleges.

A felony complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court alleges that Flores, 37, committed a lewd act “upon and with the body” of a teen on four occasions last year. The complaint also accused the former coach and trainer at STARS academy in Orange of committing two acts of sexual penetration by foreign object against the same minor.

The O.C. district attorney’s office stated that the alleged victim was a 15-year-old female athlete from the STARS academy.

“This predator used his position of trust as a coach and athletic director to prey on children for his own sexual satisfaction,” O.C. District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement about Flores, known to many in the high school football community as “Coach Frogg.”

“These athletes were there to train in an effort to excel at their sport, not to be victimized by a pedophile. What happened to this young girl is horrific and the youth sports community as a whole has been victimized by the actions of a grown man who not only abused his victim but abused that position of trust.”

Flores, a resident of Bellflower, pleaded not guilty to the charges. He remains in custody at Orange County’s Theo Lacy Facility, according to court records.

If convicted on the six charges, Flores faces a maximum of six years and four months in state prison, said Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the district attorney.

Flores has denied “any inappropriate relationship or contact with any current or former athlete or student,” according to a statement released by his Newport Beach-based attorney Edward Welbourn, a former Orange County Deputy District Attorney.

Flores was arrested Thursday in Bakersfield after Santa Ana Police investigated allegations from two individuals who “indicated that Flores sexually assaulted them.”

Santa Ana authorities stated that a teen from Riverside was allegedly sexually assaulted by Flores over the course of last year and that the assaults might have occurred at Calvary Chapel High School in Santa Ana and other locations, including Anaheim.

The teen, the police indicated, said she was enrolled at STARS’ preparatory academy and coached by Flores.

Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa/Calvary Chapel Schools issued a statement late last week that it rented parts of its facility to STARS from September 2020 to July 2021 for the academy’s ongoing effort to train young athletes.

“We are shocked and saddened to hear news of these criminal allegations,” the Calvary Chapel statement read. “(Flores) was never employed by CCCM. He was also never a member of CCCM.”

“Our prayers are for the individuals and their families. CCCM will continue to work with all authorities in their ongoing investigations,” the statement added.

Santa Ana’s investigation also identified another possible victim, a teen from Irvine who has made similar allegations to Riverside County Sheriff, said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Maria Lopez.

The academy has been linked to several top high school football players in Southern California and has stated its clients range from junior high athletes to professional players.