Former softball coach pleads guilty to having sex with minors
Todd Lafferty faces more than three years in prison
Sentencing set for Oct. 4
By Gloria I. Wang
A Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police detective said he hopes a former Los Gatos High School softball coach's recent guilty plea to sex charges will end criticism of the police department's handling of the case.
Todd Lafferty, 27, will be sentenced to up to three years and eight months in a state prison for having sexual relations with four underage girls, said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Chuck Gillingham. The plea was entered Sept. 11, after several months of delays. Lafferty currently lives at his parents' home in Saratoga and will continue to do so until his Oct. 4 sentencing.
"Obviously, I'm very pleased. I'm pleased for the girls, that they didn't have to testify. I feel that justice prevailed," said Los Gatos-Monte Sereno detective Randy Bishop, who started the investigation in March 2000 which culminated in Lafferty's arrest six months later.
One of the victims, Bishop said, was "absolutely elated that there's no trial and he's going to get what he deserves." According to Bishop, that victim had endured grief from peers and adults in the community since 1999. Now, Bishop said, Lafferty's supporters must stop blaming the victims for the crimes and instead rightfully place the blame on Lafferty.
Gillingham said that the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, Bishop in particular, was instrumental in the case. The police did a "professional and impartial evaluation of the evidence," Gillingham said, "especially in the light of the criticism of the community."
There were many members of the public who believed that the police had manipulated and victimized Lafferty. "That's just not the case and that was borne out by the guilty plea of the defendant," Gillingham said. "To those people: It's time to believe that this can happen."
Lafferty, a former West Valley College student, was a Westmont High School coach in the 1997-1998 school year and Los Gatos High School girls' softball coach 1998-'99. He was arrested at his Campbell home on Sept. 25, 2000. At the time, he was working for Yahoo! and coaching at St. Mary's School in Los Gatos. In the month after the arrest, Gillingham filed seven charges against Lafferty, including statutory rape. The victims ranged from 15 to 17 years old at the time of their relationships with Lafferty. Some were players on the various softball teams that Lafferty had coached.
Bishop was present at Lafferty's arrest in his Union Avenue apartment and spoke with him after the arrest. His impression of Lafferty, Bishop said, was: "He's a very nice kid who used his position in the community and used his position of trust with the kids to befriend them and use them as toys."
Lafferty was released into the custody of his parents in February after they posted the $1 million bail.
Between now and Oct. 4, Gillingham said, officials will conduct interviews with Lafferty and each of the victims. On Oct. 4, a county superior court judge will either sentence Lafferty or, more likely, request a diagnostic evaluation, which will determine if Lafferty can go to a state prison.
Although Lafferty's plea was basically an admission of guilt, Bishop said that the case will not be closed until the sentencing is completed.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
