Softball coach accused of kissing underage girl pleads no contest

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A girls' softball coach accused of kissing a 13-year-old girl on his team last year pleaded no contest Tuesday to a misdemeanor count of battery.

Frank John Castellanos, 49, of Rancho Cucamonga, was sentenced in West Valley Superior Court to one day in jail and placed on four years' probation.

He must stay away from the girl and register as a sex offender while on probation, and pay restitution to cover the girl's counseling expenses, Deputy District Attorney Jason Anderson said.

"This is something that was acceptable to all sides," Anderson said.

The prosecutor said the plea agreement came after a "collaborative process" between his office and the girl's family that was aimed at "obtaining what was appropriate, rather than putting their daughter through a trial."

Castellanos, who coached a team in Rancho Cucamonga, was accused of kissing the girl Feb. 11, 2009 while sitting with her in a parked car. He denied the allegation in an interview with San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies.

Castellanos pleaded no contest to battery rather than the misdemeanor that was first filed by prosecutors - annoying or molesting a child. That charge was dismissed Tuesday as part of Castellanos' plea agreement.