Latest: Accused water polo coach booted from national group
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Latest on molestation charges against a California water polo coach (all times local):
5:15 p.m.
The governing body for water polo in the United States says a Southern California coach charged with molesting his players has been suspended.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bahram Hojreh pleaded not guilty Wednesday to multiple charges including sexual battery. He's accused of assaulting seven juvenile girls during one-on-one coaching sessions dating back to 2014.
USA Water Polo CEO Christopher Ramsey says in a statement that Hojreh had his national membership and his seat on a regional board revoked when it was revealed he was being investigated in January.
Hojreh was ordered back to court for a pretrial hearing in June.
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2:05 p.m.
A Southern California water polo coach has pleaded not guilty to charges he sexually abused seven of his young female players.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bahram Hojreh appeared Wednesday in Orange County court on counts including sexual battery and lewd acts upon a child.
Hojreh's lawyer, Ricardo Nicol, tells The Associated Press his client denies the accusations. Nicol says Hojreh never had a blemish on his record after working with hundreds of children over two decades.
Prosecutors say the alleged crimes occurred during one-on-one coaching sessions between 2014 and this year. Four of the girls were 15 years old or younger Investigators are searching for additional possible victims.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 42-year-old was released on $250,000 bond.
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12:20 p.m.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prosecutors say a coach has been charged with the sexual abuse of seven girls in a Southern California water polo club.
The Orange County District Attorney's office announced Wednesday that Bahram Hojreh faces charges including sexual battery and sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor. It wasn't immediately known if Hojreh has an attorney.
The charges come months after his group, the International Water Polo Club, was removed from using the pool at a military base. Police informed base officials they were investigating allegations involving sexual misconduct against the program's director.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hojreh touts himself as a coach for nearly a quarter-century who has "helped develop multiple Olympians."
He serves on the board for a local chapter of USA Water Polo, the sport's governing body in the United States.