Prominent sports coach Chris Flores convicted of sexually assaulting a teen and a young woman

A prominent Southern California youth sports coach and trainer was convicted Tuesday, July 30, of sexually assaulting a teenager and a young woman

An Orange County Superior Court jury deliberated for several hours before finding Chris Flores guilty of seven felony counts, including sexual penetration by a foreign object and multiple lewd acts against a girl beginning when she was 14, and a sexual penetration by foreign object and force charge against a 22-year-old woman.

Flores — a Bellflower resident known to many in the local high school sports community as “Coach Frogg” — was a coach and a trainer at STARS academy in Orange. The training center is well-known in Orange County athletic circles, having been linked to several top high school football players and boasting a client list that ranges from junior high school athletes to professional players.

Prosecutors allege Flores used his position of trust to prey on children for his own sexual gratification. Along with the teen Flores is charged with abusing, prosecutors seeking to prove a pattern of unlawful conduct introduced during the trial two other young accusers who alleged that Flores committed similar acts against them.

Flores has flatly denied the allegations.

During closing arguments Tuesday in a Santa Ana courtroom, Flores’ attorney, Ed Welbourn, told jurors that false allegations from the young accusers spiraled out of control as they spread through their group. Welbourn noted that at least one of the alleged victims provided different dates for the alleged abuse during her testimony compared to when she initially spoke to law enforcement.

“Anyone can say anything at any time and then you tell your friends and you have a similar-ish story,” Welbourn said. “That doesn’t make it true.”

Prosecutors say the sexual assaults against the young teens occurred at various times in 2021, and included inappropriate touching, kissing and digital penetration. They also allege he sexually assaulted a young woman who was working for him during a party at a home in 2022.

Deputy District Attorney Sarah Rahman, during her closing arguments, cited a recorded call in which a man prosecutors have identified as Flores tries to persuade a 14-year-old to go with him to a late-night movie on a “date” and asks if she had “deleted everything.”

Rahman described Flores as a “manipulative” and “calculating” predator. The prosecutor asked what reason the accusers would have to lie about someone who had power within the sports they wanted to pursue. She also noted that it wasn’t unusual for a victim to not remember the exact dates when abuse occurred.

“Why would they blow up their futures for the one person who had those connections?” Rahman asked jurors.

STARS, where Flores was at one point listed as the COO, announced after Flores’ arrest that they had “severed all ties” with him and were cooperating with authorities.

Flores, who had been out on bail during the trial, was handcuffed and taken into custody immediately after the verdict. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 4 for sentencing.