Long Beach, CALIFORNIA

Acquitted of all charges by a jury.

Sept 17, 2007 - Raul Olivas, 41, Millikan High School head boys basketball coach, was arrested on suspicion of secretly videotaping his 16-year-old stepdaughter after the girl found a camera containing graphic images hidden in her bedroom closet.

The girl was searching for something when she came across the camera trained on a part of the room where she typically dressed. On the camera were images of her in various states of undress.

Police did not identify Olivas, but the Press-Telegram did. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 27

June 24, 2008 - Reader said that he was found not guilty. We are trying to find an online story to link to.

ACQUITTED July 11 - A jury last month acquitted a former Millikan High School teacher and coach charged with two counts of secretly taping his 16-year-old stepdaughter for sexual gratification.

Rather, Olivas and a forensic psychologist who testified for the defense - along with Olivas's wife and his stepdaughter - testified that Olivas was suffering from alcoholism, gambling addiction and depression and that he planted the camera in an obvious place as an act of self-destruction.

During the trial, Olivas' three previous DUIs were brought to light as well his prior treatment for alcoholism during a stint in rehab.

ODD NOTE: City Prosecutor Tom Reeves said Thursday that his office made no notice of the trial at the request of the victim and her family. "They were very upset with the previous media coverage," Reeves said. "So we agreed win, lose, or draw we would not publicize the case." [TT - Is that bizarre, or what?]

EVEN ODDER NOTE: According to court transcripts, Dr. Sanjay Sahgal - an assistant professor at USC and the forensic psychiatrist who interviewed Olivas - said Olivas freely admitted planting the camera to tape his stepdaughter and admitted he was attracted to teen girls. The doctor said such attractions are normal for adult males; and that while the act of setting up the camera was immoral and wrong, it was not proof of sexual deviation or pathology. [TT - No. Every father secretly tapes their 16-year-old daughter undressing. Or dreams of it? What the hell is that?]

JURY ACQUITS.