Community Corner

Judge Upholds Charges Against Former Murrieta Valley Girls Soccer Coach

Daniel Ryan Kelly, 27, of Temecula must stand trial on charges that he allegedly molested or annoyed a 16-year-old student athlete, as well as met with her at a prearranged time and place.

A judge has ordered a former Murrieta Valley High School junior varsity girls soccer coach to stand trial on charges that he allegedly molested or sexually annoyed a 16-year-old student athlete, as well as met with her at a prearranged place and time.

Daniel Ryan Kelly, 27, of Temecula was “held to answer on all counts” when he appeared Wednesday in a Southwest Justice Center courtroom for a preliminary hearing, according to John Hall, spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

After hearing testimony from prosecutors, Murrieta police detectives and Kelly’s private defense attorney, Judge Sherrill Ellsworth found there was sufficient evidence for him to stand trial.

Kelly, who had served as a part-time, walk-on coach at Murrieta Valley since 2009, was arrested Jan. 28 on suspicion of the charges. This was after Murrieta police conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations against Kelly, police said at the time of his arrest.

The former coach, who also reportedly worked for several soccer clubs and gave private lessons in Murrieta and Temecula, spent two days in jail following his arrest.

During an in-custody court arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the felony and misdemeanor charges.

Kelly is due in court again June 16 to be re-arraigned on the charges, records show.

The Murrieta Valley Unified School District terminated Kelly from his coaching position upon his arrest.


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