Former Simi Valley High lacrosse coach found guilty of sex crimes with students
The former varsity lacrosse coach at Simi Valley High School was convicted Tuesday of multiple sex crimes, some that involved students at the school, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Bijan Nickroo, 35, of Simi Valley, pleaded no contest to multiple charges, including oral copulation of a minor under 16, luring, possession of child pornography and contact with the intent to commit child pornography crimes. All were felony offenses. He was convicted by Judge Gilbert Romero during a pretrial hearing in Ventura County Superior Court.
Nickroo worked for Simi Valley Unified School District from 2012 until his arrest in December 2019. In addition to his role as head coach of the varsity lacrosse team, Nickroo worked as an assistant football coach and yard supervisor at the school.
He was first arrested after the parents of a 14-year-old male student reported Nickroo had lured the victim to his office and engaged in oral sex.
Further investigation by the Simi Valley Police Department found Nickroo messaged underage male victims via fake online profiles in a process known as "catfishing." He used these profiles of fake men and women to solicit nude photos of the victims, according to prosecutors.
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In total, investigators spoke with 28 victims who were contacted by Nickroo, many of whom were students at Simi Valley High School. Nickroo was released from jail on bail after his initial arrest, but was booked again after additional charges were filed in November 2020. He has been in custody ever since.
Nickroo had initially pleaded not guilty to all charges but changed his plea to no contest during Tuesday's hearing.
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Senior Deputy DA Edward Andrews, who prosecuted the case, said he made it his goal to ensure Nickroo would go to prison despite having already spent years in county jail.
"He is actually going to prison and will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life," Andrews said. "He will not be a teacher, he will not be a coach and he will not have access to children in this way ever again."
Nickroo's attorney, public defender Barbara Lewis, could not immediately be reached as of midday Wednesday.
Nickroo is set to be sentenced on Jan. 11 in courtroom 48. He faces a sentence of five years in state prison, according to the DA's office.
This item may be updated.
Jeremy Childs is a general assignment reporter covering courts, crime and breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, and on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Bijan Nickroo, former Simi lacrosse coach, found guilty of sex crimes
