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Former coach denies charges

Former Sonoma Valley girls soccer coach Gregory Vance Tatton pleaded not guilty Monday in Sonoma County Superior Court to multiple charges of molesting one of his underage players.
Tatton, 43, pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a 15-year old. He is due back in court on May 13.
A bail review requested by Deputy District Attorney Jason Riehl, citing Tatton as a flight risk, was denied by Judge Elliot Daum. He remains free on $150,000 bail.
It was the first court appearance for Tatton, who was arrested in West Hollywood on April 3 and remanded to the Sonoma County jail on April 6.
Tatton coached the elite Sonoma Valley Youth Soccer Association team for five years, including a championship in 2005. A charismatic figure, Tatton came under suspicion of parents and league officials in the fall of 2007. Concerns included “improper interactions” with young players, and how Tatton handled rooming arrangements on the team’s out-of-town trips, according to a California Youth Soccer Association chronology.
The team, which was then disbanded, included Tatton’s daughter and the daughters of the assistant coach and team manager.
The parents of the 15-year-old, and another source close to her, contacted police in December 2007, presenting details about Tatton’s alleged predatory behavior. The result was the granting of an emergency protective order and a three-year restraining order. Tatton was subsequently fired and banned for life by the league. In January 2008, he was released by Tamalpais High School in Marin County, where he had been a part time coach and peer educator. He disappeared shortly thereafter.
A March warrant for Tatton’s arrest was based on evidence found on a computer, according to Sgt. David Thompson. He was traced to West Hollywood where, after a stakeout by Sonoma sheriff’s investigators, he was arrested without incident.
Five of the acts denied by Tatton carry a maximum prison term of three years each. The other five acts are at most one year sentences. None of the alleged crimes include the use of force; minors, however, cannot legally consent to sexual activity with adults.