Costa Mesa Basketball Coach arrested for unlawful sex with minors in four cases from 2009

Irvine, Calif. – A former basketball coach has been arrested after four victims came forward to report sexual incidents that occurred in 2009, when the victims were between 11 and 14 years of age. Carlos Juarez, 44, was arrested Thursday, April 11, outside his home on the 1300 block of Adams Avenue in Costa Mesa.

Juarez met the victims, who do not know each other, when all were in elementary school. Irvine Police Department Detectives believe that Juarez groomed the victims from a young age, with the incidents beginning years after his first contact with them. Juarez met the girls through his work as a basketball coach for a club team. The Irvine Police Department, Costa Mesa Police Department, Tustin Police Department and OC Sheriff’s Department are involved in the cases related to the four victims. Costa Mesa police arrested Juarez on a $100,000 warrant obtained by the Irvine Police Department. He was subsequently transferred to Orange County Jail.

Investigators believe there are more victims in this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective John Sanders at 949-724-7233 or jsanders@cityofirvine.org.