St. Helena, CALIFORNIA

The victims were ages 15 and 16 when the assaults happened, and Sandler was 33.

April 7, 2008 - Hershel Sandler, 45, a St. Helena High School coach, delayed entering a plea this afternoon. His arraignment has been rescheduled to Thursday afternoon.

Sandler is charged with committing oral copulation with a girl under age 18 between March 2, 1996 and March 1, 1999; two counts of oral copulation with a girl under age 16 between March 21, 1997 and March 20, 1998; and having sex with a girl under age 16 between March 21, 1997 and March 20, 1998.

The alleged offenses were reported to police on Jan. 28, 2008 and on Nov. 6, 2007. The complaint alleges Sandler committed similar sexual misconduct against other girls, including other teenage girls and other volleyball players, and that evidence includes witnesses and admissions by Sandler.

Sandler resigned in October 2007.
Full Name: Hershel Bernard Sandler

ARRESTED April 3 - Sandler was arrested at his home Wednesday night. The victims, now adults, were 15 and 16 when most of the incidents occurred. Sandler resigned just before the start of the wrestling season last fall, shortly after allegations of sexual misconduct came to light, according to local press accounts.

ARRAIGNMENT DELAYED April 8 - Sandler delayed entering his plea to three counts of oral copulation with a minor and one count of lewd acts against a child. A continuance of the arraignment and a bail hearing are scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The arraignment was delayed last Thursday while he found a lawyer.

Sandler previously requested that he be released on his own recognizance. He is currently being held at Napa County Jail on $250,000 bail. Napa County Superior Court Judge Stephen Kroyer denied Sandler’s request last Thursday to be released on his own recognizance, calling him “a danger to the public based on what I’ve read in the complaint.”
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Department of Correction inmate custody entry for Sandler.
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NOT GUILTY PLEA April 11 - Sandler pleaded not guilty. Judge Rodney Stone reduced Sandler's bail to $100,000 from $250,000. The complaint alleges Sandler committed similar sexual misconduct against other girls, including other teenage girls and other volleyball players, and that evidence includes witnesses and admissions by Sandler. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 2.

SENTENCED July 23 - Sandler pleaded no contest last May to two counts of oral copulation. He was sentenced Wednesday to 270 days in Napa County Jail and five years of probation. The probation department recommended the court find that Herschel Sandler, 45, had served his time and allow him to leave the courtroom a free man.

Uppercase Judge Napa County Superior Court Judge Rodney Stone, however, disagreed, ordering Sandler to serve the nine months in the county jai - not prisonl. He must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.