SAMOHI — A Santa Monica High School coach was arrested Wednesday for allegedly having unlawful sex with a minor.
Michael David Hearn, 37, was arrested for the alleged statutory rape of a student, who school officials say is enrolled outside of the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District.
“The alleged victim is not or was never in the district,” said SMMUSD Superintendent John Deasy.
Santa Monica Police detectives arrested Hearn at Samohi, 601 Pico Blvd., at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday without incident. He also was booked for traffic warrants. His bail was set at $42,174. He was released from the Santa Monica Jail at 1:30 a.m. Thursday after posting bail, police said.
One count of unlawful sex with a minor was filed against Hearn with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office on Thursday. Hearn will be arraigned in the next several days.
It’s unclear what led authorities to Hearn, but detectives have been on the case for nearly a month.
“The investigation was three weeks long,” said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.
Hearn is described as a “low-level” assistant football coach and the coach of the junior varsity basketball team at Samohi, said Jeanne Wells, who works in Deasy’s office.
Hearn — whom sources said is a community member and reportedly has children who attend schools in Santa Monica — is not a teacher in the district, only a coach.
Hearn is on “home assignment” while the investigation continues, Deasy said, adding he will not be returning to the campus until the matter is resolved. Hearn has been employed in the district for a few years, sources said.
Deasy said he is disturbed and distressed over the arrest. “We need the facts and will help the police department however we can,” he said. “I think it is a very unfortunate situation.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 4, 2004. Read the original PDF.