The former championship wrestling coach charged with sex crimes against students has been released from jail on $530,000 bail, Ventura County Superior Court records indicate.
Ronald Wilson, 73, faces three counts of lewd acts upon a child, three counts of luring, two counts of sodomy and one count each of rape by force, unlawful sexual intercourse, forcible sexual penetration and forcible oral copulation, according to records.
Prosecutor Stuart Gardner said the charges are in connection to four victims.
Wilson appeared in court briefly Oct. 30 for his arraignment, which was continued to Dec. 10. He has not yet entered pleas, Gardner said.
His defense attorney, Karen Goldstein, said in court Oct. 30 that she planned to submit a motion challenging several of the charges.
Wilson, who was released from custody Oct. 22, was initially arrested May 13 at his Colorado home. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office alleges he initiated and maintained a sexual relationship with a juvenile female student at Camarillo High School from approximately 2014 to 2017.
The other alleged victims came forward after his arrest.
Wilson worked in the Oxnard Union High School District for more than 40 years. He was head wrestling coach for Camarillo High nearly 30 years until his retirement in 2020, and at Oxnard High School for 13 years before. He was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in October 2022.
Makena Huey is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at makena.huey@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Fund to Support Local Journalism.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Former wrestling coach accused of sex crimes released on $530K bail
Reporting by Makena Huey, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
