Russell Otis

Russell Otis

COMPTON -- Former Dominguez High basketball coach Russell Otis was convicted Tuesday of child molestation, requiring him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Otis was acquitted on felony grand theft and forgery charges.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of conviction on a charge of meeting for a lewd purpose, a felony, said Deputy District Attorney Angela Brunson.

The jury deliberated for 10 days before convicted Otis, 47, of misdemeanor child molestation.


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Brunson said prosecutors have not decided whether to retry him on the felony count of making unwanted sexual advances to a male under 18 on Aug. 30, 2008.

The jury found Otis not guilty of forgery and of receiving a stipend of more than $2,000 as a golf coach, even though Dominguez High has no golf program.

Otis returns to court Dec. 1 for pretrial conference. Otis remains free on bail.