California high school football coach David Riden was convicted of hiding a camera in girls’ locker rooms

A former assistant soccer coach at a Southern California high school was sentenced Friday to nine years and four months in prison for secretly setting up a camera in the girls’ locker room and photographing 21 students.

David Arthur Riden, who worked at Los Osos High School, pleaded guilty last month to possessing over 600 images of child sexual assault material, using a minor to produce child sexual assault material and secretly photographed a minor.

In addition to serving his sentence, Riden must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

“Our office is pleased with the outcome of this complaint, particularly as it relates to the felony charges,” the San Bernardino County Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “It ensures that Riden is held accountable for his crimes and victims do not have to endure a potentially lengthy trial and further emotional trauma.”

He was originally arrested last year after another high school employee found the camera disguised as a phone charger in the locker room.

One of his victims, Jordyn Stotts, along with attorney Gloria Allred, spoke out publicly on Friday.

“Riden, the game you were playing was sick. I spoke to you almost every day and thought how kind and sweet of a person you were and I thought of you as a coach who loves his job,” Stotts said at a news conference.

“But the whole time you’ve been behind all of our backs, which is sick.”

Allred, who is representing victims and their families in a lawsuit against the school district, said some parents found the verdict “very disappointing.”

“Even though Mr Riden will be sent to prison, some parents felt he should be given a much longer sentence,” Allred said Friday. “Many parents and their daughters have experienced an emotional rollercoaster ride.”

A representative for the Chaffey Joint Union High School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.