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Photograph by Dai Sugano
Todd Lafferty, 26-year-old former LGHS softball coach, appeared in court last week. Additional charges forced a delay in his plea and the motion for reduction in bail.
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New charges force delay in plea, bail for Lafferty
By Nathan R. Huff
The former Los Gatos girls' softball coach charged with having improper relationships with three minors is scheduled to enter a plea in Santa Clara County Superior Court on Oct. 12.
Defendant Todd Lafferty was scheduled to make a plea on Oct. 4, and his lawyer had filed a motion to reduce bail, but both actions were delayed due to new charges filed earlier in the week. Close to a half dozen spectators waited for the announcement as Deputy District Attorney Charles Gillingham and defense attorney Steve Manchester met with Judge Robert Ambrose behind closed doors.
According to Gillingham, Manchester wanted to review the new charges before he proceeds with the case against his 26-year-old client, who is being held on $1 million bail.
Lafferty was arrested on Sept. 25 in his Union Avenue apartment after a seven-month investigation by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department. He was arraigned on Sept. 26, on charges of unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a minor. The alleged victim was a 16-year-old Los Gatos High School student; however, she did not play on the school's softball team during the 1998-1999 season when Lafferty coached.
On Oct. 2, the district attorney's office filed four new charges based on the reports of two new victims. Both girls were 15-years-old at the time, one a Los Gatos High School student and member of the softball team, the other a girl Lafferty allegedly met over the Internet.
The additional charges included two counts of digital penetration, one of oral copulation and one of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. All four violations allegedly occurred in Lafferty's vehicle in the Los Gatos hills.
Lafferty was visibly upset while waiting for the results of the conference between the judge and the two attorneys. According to a player on Lafferty's 16-under Los Gatos-Saratoga Magic girls' softball team, the audience included Lafferty's parents and several of the Magic's assistant coaches, all of whom were there to support the defendant.
A number of former players have come to Lafferty's defense, saying he was like a "big brother," protective of his players and always willing to listen. Others have said they kept in regular contact with him during the off-season, talking regularly on the phone and sending cards during holidays.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
