More Charges for Wrestling Coach | Terry Gillard

31 Child Molestation Counts Added to Case Against High School Wrestling Coach

Terry Gillard, Sun Valley’s John H. Francis Polytechnic High School wrestling coach was charged today with an additional 31 counts for the alleged sexual abuse and assaults of six teen athletes, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.  Terry Gillard also coached the wrestling team at the Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando since the early 1990’s.

Deputy District Attorney Cathy Lee said Terry Terrell Gillard, 56, of Sylmar now faces 61 counts: 40 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child ages 14 or 15; eight felony counts of attempted lewd acts upon a child ages 14 or 15; three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14; two felony counts of oral copulation of child under age 18; and one felony count of sexual battery by restraint.

The, now, 61 total charges in case PA088987 include four misdemeanor counts of child annoying, two misdemeanor counts of attempted unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and one misdemeanor count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

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Terry Gillard pleaded not guilty to the charges on the amended complaint and is scheduled to return on July 27 in Department S of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, San Fernando Branch.

Most of the alleged child sexual abuse occurred between 2014 and 2017 and involved minors the defendant met through the school’s wrestling team, the prosecutor said. The felony complaint includes a victim from 1991.

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The sexual abuse victims include four boys and two girls between the ages of 11 and 14.

Bail remains at $750,000. Gillard faces more than 50 years in state prison if convicted as charged.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Juvenile Division.