Coach charged in sex with student

DAYTON -- Dayton High School's former girls varsity basketball coach is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old player on his team.

A complaint was filed against Desi Rene Navarro, 26, in Dayton Justice Court on June 13. It alleges that he had sex with the student in her bedroom, twice in a vehicle, at Dayton Valley Country Club and at Sutro Elementary School.

A 1994 Carson High School graduate and homecoming king, Navarro had coached varsity basketball for two years in Dayton and served as the school's computer technician for one year.

"We try to find as much information and background that we possibly can," said Lyon County superintendent Nat Lommori. "Unfortunately, things like this sometimes happen. We will follow the law and allow the law to work."

After an investigation into the allegations, school officials placed Navarro on administrative leave. He submitted a letter of resignation but it was denied and he was fired.

"We thought it was the most appropriate course of action," Lommori said.

The arraignment is set for 9 a.m. July 11 in Dayton Justice Court. Navarro is charged with three counts of sexual conduct between school employees and pupils, a felony carrying a one- to five-year sentence on each count.

His wife is the girls junior varsity basketball coach at Dayton High School.

Neither Navarro nor his attorney Ken Ward returned phone calls Tuesday evening.