OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Conner Chanove, a school counselor accused of molesting a 13-year-old student, pleaded not guilty to four felony charges in a Vista courtroom Monday afternoon.
Deputy District Attorney Jessica Stehr says it happened on November 18 at Guajome Lake Park in Oceanside. The teen’s mother, using a tracking app, says she found her daughter in the backseat of Chanove's car.
“When she opened the door, she found that the defendant had his pants down,” Stehr said.
Stehr says the teen admitted to Oceanside police that she kissed Chanove and touched him below the waist. She says Chanove is a counselor at the victim's school in the Vista Unified School District and that the two set up the meeting at the park over social media.
Chanove, who also worked as a girl's water polo coach in the North County and as a lifeguard in Carlsbad, is currently in custody.
His bail was initially set at $1,000,000, but his attorney - arguing that Chanove has no previous criminal history - asked for that to be lowered.
The deputy district attorney disagreed.
“We do believe that this defendant poses a safety risk and are asking the court to keep bail as set,” she said.
The judge asked if there were any other alleged victims at this time, and when the deputy district attorney said no, he agreed to lower Chanove's bail to $325,000.
He also added several conditions to his release, including Chanove wearing a GPS tracking monitor, not going on school grounds, and staying at least 15 feet away from anyone under 18 years old.
He also cannot have any contact with the teen.
“You are ordered to remain at all times 100 yards away from her and her home and her work and her vehicle and her school. Do you understand?,” Judge Matthew Brower asked Chanove, who replied, “Yes, your honor.”
Chanove’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 24, 2024. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
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