Coach in O.C. is held in rape case

Man, 34, is suspected of having sex with a student, 17, on campus.

Santa Ana police arrested a 34-year-old parttime high school wrestling coach on suspicion of having sex with a 17-year-old female student on campus and during school hours over the course of several months.

Jaime Orendain was booked last week on suspicion of multiple offenses, including felony statutory rape, after officers found him in a distraught state talking with a friend along the Santa Ana River, police said.

The teen, a former student who now attends college, reportedly told Orendain that her parents had learned about their sexual relationship, causing him to panic, said Santa Ana police spokesman Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

The coach soon called the school and said he was moving to San Antonio.

He also posted an emotional video on his Instagram page that made his friends and students believe he was suicidal, and they called police, Bertagna said. The student’s parents also reported the alleged relationship.

Orendain, who is married with six children, was not at home when officers arrived Tuesday. They found him around midnight by the river.

Orendain had worked at the school since 2002, Bertagna said.

“We are unaware of other victims, but he has been there a long time,” Bertagna said. “Could he potentially have had other victims? We are still investigating.”

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Cpl. M. Lopez at (714) 245-8542 or mlopez15@santa-ana.org, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIPOCCS.

‘Could he potentially have had other victims? We are still investigating.’ — Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, Santa Ana police spokesman