City to pay family of molested boy

Paul Clinton

The City Council has agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a lawsuit

stemming from a city recreation employee who was convicted of molesting

underage boys.

City Atty. Gail Hutton announced the settlement, which was unanimously

approved in a closed session on May 6, at the beginning of the council’s

Monday meeting.

Juan Guzman, 25, pleaded guilty to engaging in sex acts with underage

boys including a 15-year-old Huntington Beach boy last summer. Guzman,

who worked as a part-time coach at Oak View Community Center, was

deported to his native Mexico later in the year.

The boy and his family sued Guzman, the city and the league. The suit

alleged that the city negligently employed Guzman.

The city has agreed to pay $25,000 of the $105,000 settlement.

The National Junior Basketball League, a nonprofit group that operates

youth leagues at city parks and gyms, has agreed to pay the remainder,

officials said.

Tom Kelly, the general manager and league administrator, refused to

comment on the settlement.

The council decided to settle the case to avoid costly litigation and

had not acknowledged any wrongdoing, attorney Neal Moore said.

“The city had no information or knowledge of his proclivities,” Moore

said. “None of this ever occurred while he was on the clock.”

Over the course of a one-year period that ended in his arrest in July

of 2000, Guzman sexually molested the boy, who was 12 at the time.

Guzman performed the sex acts on other children as well, whom he took

to the City Gym and Pool during evening hours, Moore said. The pool is at

1600 Palm Ave.

Guzman had obtained keys to the facility, which is usually locked

during evening hours. Guzman had coached the boy, whose name is protected

because he is a minor, in the basketball league.

The abuse predates the more recent case of a Newport Beach recreation

worker who has been charged with committing lewd acts against children in

that city.

Trenton Michael Veches, a 31-year-old Huntington Beach resident, quit

his job May 8. Veches allegedly sucked the toes of children between the

ages of 6 and 10.