Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PRICE — A former coach of the Carbon High School golf team was charged Tuesday with sexually abusing a teen student-athlete over several years.
Kenneth George Otani, 54, of Helper, is charged in 7th District Court with object rape and forcible sodomy, first-degree felonies, and forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
In July 2018, following a golf lesson, Otani asked a 16-year-old girl, who was a member of the golf team, "what she would do if he molested her while in the building at the Carbon County Golf Course driving range," according to a police booking affidavit.
The girl said she was then sexually assaulted by Otani, who "continued to assault her sexually over the course of several years while she was under his direction as a Carbon High School golf coach and a private golf tutor," the affidavit states.
The girl estimated she was abused at least 100 times over the course of her high school years, according to police. On some occasions, she said she was "required to meet with Otani at his residence for private golf lessons," which would take place in a bedroom, the affidavit alleges.
Otani was coach of the high school team until 2020.
In April, the girl told her mother about the alleged abuse, the affidavit states. Upon learning this, the mother sent a text message to Otani: "So, I understand the real reason (she) hates golf. ... She finally told us what you did to her. She was our innocent girl. ... How dare you do this to her."
Five minutes after sending that message, investigators say Otani sent a message to the girl asking her if she had told her mother. Thirty minutes after that, Otani sent the mother a message stating, "I am so very sorry! There is no excuse. I am beside myself. I hate that I have hurt all of you," according to the affidavit.
Police say for approximately four-and-a-half years, Otani and the girl exchanged more than 16,700 text messages.
An initial court appearance for Otani is scheduled for Wednesday.
