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Simi Valley High Assistant Coach Arrested on Five Felony Lewd-Act Counts Involving Two Girls

Investigators say the alleged encounters occurred off campus at a local business with girls not from his school.

Overview

  • Police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Jabari DeShields, a newly hired assistant walk-on boys basketball coach at Simi Valley High School.
  • He was booked into Ventura County Main Jail on suspicion of five felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 and is held on $120,000 bail.
  • Simi Valley police say both girls were enrolled in the district at the time, one in the independent studies program, and neither attended Simi Valley High.
  • The investigation began after a mandated reporter alerted authorities in October, and the Major Crimes Unit continues to probe the case.
  • District officials placed DeShields on leave, police report no indication of additional victims at this time, and a court appearance is scheduled for Monday.