Santa Rosa Piner JV coach held on sex charges

A longtime youth soccer coach and current junior varsity girls coach at Piner High School was arrested Wednesday morning and booked into Sonoma County Jail, accused of committing sexual acts on a minor.

Richard Alexander Vives, 42, a soccer enthusiast on both the club and school scene, was arrested at the high school on suspicion of oral copulation and sexual penetration, said Sgt. Lisa Banayat of the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Principal Mary Beth Halsey said she knew nothing of the weeklong investigation until Wednesday morning, just before Vives' arrest.

It was unclear late Wednesday if the alleged victim had any connection to Piner High School.

"They have told me very little: It's a police matter, that they cannot give me any details," she said. "It is my understanding that it took place on a weekend, not at a school-related event and not on this campus."

In addition to being junior varsity coach at Piner, Vives has volunteered with both Northwest Oaks Soccer Club and Santa Rosa United over the years, refereeing games and helping with the Rose City tournament.

He was listed Wednesday as Santa Rosa United's referee coordinator on the club's Web site, but his name had been removed by late afternoon.

Many of Santa Rosa United's directors were attending a monthly managers meeting for the club and unavailable for comment.

Vives also has been actively involved with youth baseball, according to friends.

A phone message to all Piner students and parents was sent out Wednesday afternoon, announcing that Vives is being placed on administrative leave. It did not give the reason behind the leave, saying only that Vives was arrested as a result of a complaint to the police.

Counselors will be available on campus today if students need them, Halsey said.

Police released few details about the case, including if there was more than one victim.

A sexual assault detective had been investigating for about a week before the arrest.

Parents attending Piner's soccer match at Santa Rosa High School on Wednesday expressed frustration that Vives, who was in his first year as a Piner coach and is not a teacher at the school, was being associated with the campus.

Members of the girls soccer squad will be linked to the allegations, regardless of the outcome, they said.

Still others, some visibly upset, said they had been friends with Vives and his family for decades, and expressed disbelief and outrage at the unfolding situation.

Members of the junior varsity squad declined to comment on the case after their game. Some left the field crying.

Varsity coach Mark Pennewell coached both the JV and varsity squads Wednesday afternoon. Halsey said she was not sure whether Pennewell will take over coaching for both teams for the remainder of the season or whether Vives will be replaced.

The regular season ends Oct. 29.

Vives remained in Sonoma County Jail on $30,000 bail Thursday morning, according to jail personnel.

He was booked on two felony counts of oral copulation with a minor and one felony charge of sexual penetration with a minor. If convicted, each charge carries a maximum term of a year in state prison or county jail.

Vives has no criminal record in Sonoma County, according to court records.

He is due to be arraigned in court Friday morning.

You can reach Staff Writer Kerry Benefield at 521-8671 or kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com. Staff Writers L.A. Carter and Randi Rossmann contributed to this report.