The Sacramento Bee, December 9, 1997
FORMER ENCINA COACH IS ARRESTED
UNLAWFUL SEX WITH 16-YEAR-OLD ALLEGED
By Nigel Hatton, Bee Staff Writer
   Former Encina High School basketball coach Jon Hightower was arrested
Monday on a felony charge of having unlawful sex with a 16-year-old female
student, often called statutory rape.
   Accompanied by his attorney, Richard Burton, Hightower surrendered to
authorities about 3 p.m. He was released the same day on $3,000 bail, said
sheriff's Sgt. Jim Cooper. "He doesn't have any comment at this time,"
Burton said.
   Hightower, 34, was fired last week as an Encina coach and counselor
after the Sheriff's Department launched its investigation into
allegations of sexual involvement.
   He was in his third season as coach of Encina's boys varsity basketball
team and last year led the team to the Division IV state championships for
the first time in school history.
   Encina Principal Tom Gemma said members of the basketball team are
taking the news "like a death in the family." "The kids had so much hope,"
Gemma said Monday. "They counted on him to fulfill a lot of the dreams they
had and the goals they were trying to pursue. This came as a great shock.
They're disappointed."
   Helping the players cope, counselors are meeting with the team as a
group and will extend their services to any individuals who feel they
need it, Gemma said. "They're determined to move on, put this past them and
have a good season," Gemma said, adding that athletic director Russ Hibbard
has taken over varsity basketball coaching duties.
   Cooper said the relationship between Hightower and the girl lasted from
June until October. It had ended by the time officers began
investigating the Encina coach about two weeks ago, he said. The key issue
to law enforcement is not whether the sexual relationship was consensual,
according to Cooper. A 16-year-old is too young to give
an adult legal consent for sex.
   "The bottom line is she's 16. He's an educator and he knew her age,"
Cooper said. "He should not have been involved with her. . . . He was
entrusted to help provide an education, and he betrayed that trust."
   Initial reports of the relationship came from one of the girl's friends
who was suspicious of the two and reported her concerns to school officials,
Cooper said.
   Although not commenting specifically on circumstances of the Hightower
case, San Juan Unified School District spokeswoman Christine Olsen said such
allegations are investigated immediately.
   Hightower's attorney, Burton, said he talked with the victim's family,
and they said, "They just want to put the incident behind them. My hope is
that my client in the end will be charged with a
misdemeanor," said Burton, adding the former coach has cooperated fully with
the investigation.
   The arrest of Hightower, who was a thesis away from a master's degree,
has sent shock waves through Encina's hallways, the Sacramento
community, and an entire basketball league.
   Burton feels a felony prosecution would be unduly harsh and could keep
Hightower, if convicted, from working again as a counselor or educator in
California. "I don't want to see his life destroyed," he said. Burton added
that Hightower's wife and two kids remain by his side as his troubles
continue. The Hightower declined to comment Monday on the criminal charge.