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San Jose Cheerleading Coach Arrested On Child Molestation Charges

SAN JOSE (KCBS) – Students at Andrew Hill High School in San Jose are in shock and disbelief over the recent arrest of the school's cheerleading coach, who is being charged with child molestation.

23-year-old Anthony Loza was taken into custody Sunday on charges that he had sexual relations with a member of his cheerleading squad.

"As of last night, he remains in custody on $500,000 bail," said San Jose Police spokesman Jose Garcia.

KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:

Police said that Loza is suspected of sexually abusing a minor over a three-month period beginning in September. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said Loza is being charged with multiple felonies, including one count of sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 16, one count of oral copulation with a child under the age of 16 and one count of sodomy with a person over 21 while a minor under the age of 16 was present.

At least one cheerleader told KCBS that the allegations were not true, but Garcia said investigators did a thorough investigation.

"There was enough information for the officers to make contact with the person calling it in," he said. "They spoke with the victim and obtained information that allowed them to make the arrest."

The unidentified victim is either a cheerleader at Andrew Hill or Energy Athletics. Police said while there is no indication that Loza victimized more than one individual, they are asking for anyone with information on him or the ongoing investigation to come forward and contact San Jose police Detective Lisa Tindall at (408) 277-4102.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP.

Loza was being held on $500,000 bail and was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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