SVHS lacrosse coach pleads not guilty

Man accused of lewd acts against kids



Nickroo

Nickroo

A boys’ lacrosse head coach at Simi Valley High School, who was arrested Monday on suspicion of sexual misconduct with minors, pleaded not guilty in Ventura County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Officers with the Simi Valley Police Department took Bijan Nickroo II, 32, into custody just before 4 p.m. Dec. 16.

An employee at SVHS since 2012, Nickroo is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old boy and soliciting pornographic selfies from other minors using a fake social media profile.

Officials allege that Nickroo misrepresented himself online to get nude selfie photos from students, said Erik Nasarenko, the Ventura County senior deputy district attorney handling the case.

The alleged sexual encounter between Nickroo and the boy took place Nov. 29, the prosecutor said.

“You have a coach allegedly committing sex acts against someone he has authority and care over and (who’s also) in a position to interact and approach additional students,” Nasarenko said of the case. “These are all issues of concern, and we’ll see where the case goes after additional evidence is collected.”

The charges stem from allegations lodged by the parents of the 14-year-old boy, Simi Valley Police Cmdr. Steve Shorts said.

After the parents reported the matter to the police, a school resource officer began interviewing students and collecting evidence. By Dec. 16, police felt they had enough to make an arrest, Shorts said.

In addition to being a lacrosse coach at SVHS, Nickroo, a member of the Simi High Class of 2005, worked as a campus supervisor and an assistant coach for the football team. He was also a program leader at the local Boys & Girls Club from 2005 to 2014.

Jake Finch, Simi Valley Unified School District spokesperson, said the district takes every reported act of misconduct seriously.

“As soon as school and district administrators were advised of the allegations by the SVPD, Bijan Nickroo was immediately placed on (unpaid) administrative leave for the alleged misconduct,” she said in a statement.

Nickroo will remain on leave until the case is resolved or until he quits.

“But he’s not ever coming back on our campuses,” Finch told the Acorn.

Court date

According to the Ventura County jail website, Nickroo was still in custody Wednesday. He’s being held on $100,000 bail.

He’s being charged with one count of oral copulation of a person under the age of 16, one count of committing a lewd act on a child and one count of arranging a meeting place with the intent to expose, all felonies.

Shorts said the case is a reminder to parents to monitor what their children are doing online.

“The bottom line is we’re talking about someone using social media to lure kids,” Shorts said. “Parents should be engaged in what social media their kids are on and actively monitoring it . . . and that can certainly help a parent sort out any inappropriate behavior from someone.”

If convicted as charged, Nickroo faces a maximum five years and four months in state prison. He would also have to register as a sex offender.

Nasarenko wouldn’t rule out the possibility of more charges— or more victims.

“This is an evolving case and there’s a likelihood the criminal complaint will be amended, and once it is, it may reflect additional criminal charges,” the D.A. said.

Glenn Major of the Ventura County public defender’s office was appointed to represent Nickroo in court Dec. 18.

Nickroo is due back before a judge Mon., Dec. 30 for an early disposition hearing.