By Khalida Sarwari
A 61-year-old veteran swim coach has pleaded no contest to 20 felony child molestation charges and could spend the remainder of his life in prison.
Andrew King, a former head coach of the San Jose Aquatics swim team, now faces a maximum sentence of 42 years in state prison.
King was arrested on April 2 on charges that he had inappropriate relations with a 14-year-old female swimmer in San Jose, San Jose police said. He posted $100,000 bail.
King joined the Silicon Valley Aquatic Association in 2000 and has coached for more than 30 years, according to the San Jose Aquatics Web site, which also says he was head coach for Bay Area USA swim teams in San Ramon and Walnut Creek.
He pleaded no contest Friday to 17 counts of committing a lewd act with a minor under age 14 and three counts of committing a lewd act with a child 14 or 15 years of age in which theb perpetrator is at least 10 years older than the victim, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
A sentencing date will be set for King on Nov. 19.