South Bay Basketball Coach Named to Head West High Girls Program Arrested on Suspicion of Rape

By Larry Altman
Daily Breeze
June 3, 2015

http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20150603/south-bay-basketball-coach-named-to-head-west-high-girls-program-arrested-on-suspicion-of-rape

Timothy Lucas

A South Bay assistant basketball coach recently named head coach of the girls team at West High School in Torrance was arrested today on suspicion of raping one of his former players, police said.

Timothy Lucas, 32, of Cypress was taken into custody at Manhattan Beach Middle School, where he worked as an instructional assistant, police and school officials said.

Detectives released few details of the allegations against Lucas, but said the forcible rape occurred at a Hermosa Beach residence about 18 months ago.

Detectives only became aware of the case in recent days, Hermosa Beach police Sgt. Robert Higgins said.

“Details of the alleged rape are being withheld due to the victim being a juvenile,” a police statement said. “The Hermosa Beach Police Department asks that the media respect the juvenile sexual assault victim’s anonymity when reporting on the incident.”

Lucas was held at the Hermosa Beach jail on suspicion of forcible rape and sex with a minor. He was held on $200,000 bail.

According to police, Lucas is a girls basketball coach who worked for several South Bay schools, including Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Beach Middle School and Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance.

The Daily Breeze reported May 15 that West High hired Lucas to take over its girls program.

West High Athletic Director Bill Atkinson described Lucas as an “up-and-comer” who gets along well with players.

West High Principal Pam Metz emailed parents Wednesday to notify them of the arrest. Lucas, she said, was a “paraeducator” at the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.

“As you may already know, Tim Lucas was going to be recommended to the Board of Education to be hired as the West High girls basketball coach,” Metz wrote. “Pursuant to TUSD hiring policies, Mr. Lucas was cleared for employment by the Department of Justice following the completion of his application.

“It has now come to our attention that he has been arrested by the Hermosa Beach Police Department on the morning of Wednesday, June 3, 2015. Tim Lucas will no longer be recommended to the Board of Education to work at West High or for TUSD.”

Michael Matthews, superintendent of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, issued a letter to parents that said the district will cooperate fully with the police investigation. Lucas was placed on administrative leave.

“Based on the outcome of the investigation, the district will take any and all necessary action in accordance with law,” Matthews wrote. “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.”

Matthews said all employees hired to work in Manhattan Beach schools and at other districts must first undergo a background check that includes having their fingerprints run through FBI and state Department of Justice databases.

“Please know that we share our community’s deep concern for safety, and we will take all necessary and appropriate actions based on facts and the law,” Matthews wrote.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Lucas did not work for Redondo Union High School.