ORANGE, Calif. (KABC) – A prominent Southern California athletic trainer and former coach at an Orange County athletic and rehab facility accused of sexually assaulting underage girls has been arrested, police say.
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, Chris Flores was arrested Thursday during a traffic stop in Bakersfield.
Police said he was with two other people at the time of his arrest, although their identities were not released.
According to a police update, one of the Flores victims is a 14-year-old girl from Riverside.
He reportedly met her through Sports Training and Rehabilitation Services, aka STARS. Flores was a former coach there and the gym used Santiago Middle School’s campus and field to train at Orange.
“This has happened multiple times over the course of a year,” said Santa Ana PD Sgt. Maria Lopez.
Police said several of these attacks took place on the Calvary Chapel High School campus, where some training sessions were held.
They said the attacks also happened across the city of Santa Ana.
“He definitely had access to minors in Southern California,” Lopez said. “He was a coach, a coach, so we see our concern that he had access to other minors.”
In an audio recording allegedly capturing Flores molesting one of his victims, obtained by Eyewitness News, he can be heard speaking to the teenager on the phone and asking if she deleted texts they exchanged.
“Did you delete something?” says the tone.
After assuring Flores that she did in fact delete texts, the teenager asks her out, but she refuses.
“What the hell? We can never chill and now you don’t want to go and start school right away,” the audio reads. “So stop being a fool.”
The recording continues, Flores says: “What about tonight after practice? Do you want to watch a movie?”
In another portion of the audio, Flores says, “We’ve been talking about this guy, you need to stop the nos.”
Police say the teenager eventually agreed to meet with Flores and they said she is not alone.
A 15-year-old from Irvine reported similar allegations against Flores to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
“Whether she was an athlete or enrolled or what his relationship or relationship with this woman, this minor, I’m not sure,” Lopez said.
Meanwhile, STARS founder Jason David spoke to Eyewitness News on Wednesday and said he wants the public to know that these types of allegations will not be tolerated and that the safety of these children is their top priority.
“I’m sick, I’m disgusted, I’m outraged,” David said in an Instagram post addressing the sexual misconduct allegations against Flores. “Please understand that I stand with you through and through.”
David said STARS has a zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and they have severed all ties with Flores.
David, who is a father of five girls, said he can only stand by the alleged victims and their families at the moment.
“To the young women who are speaking up and considering speaking out, I commend you. you are brave I stand by you and only pray that justice will be served.”
Additionally, David said STARS immediately implemented new protocols to ensure every child who is part of their program is safe and feels protected.
He wants anyone who feels they’ve been a victim of this coach to come forward.
“These poor little girls are having to deal with this not only in private but now publicly, but I want to encourage you to keep speaking out and sharing your story,” David said. “We will stand by you.”
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