La Serna football coach Margarito Beltran fired amid allegations involving special needs student

Margarito Beltran has been fired. (Whittier Daily News/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger)

Margarito Beltran has been fired.
(Whittier Daily News/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger)


By Stephen Ramirez
WHITTIER >> La Serna High School fired head football coach Margarito Beltran on Thursday and placed the special education teacher on paid administrative leave following allegations involving physical restraint of a special needs student outside a classroom, district officials said.
Whittier police are investigating the incident, which occurred Aug. 21 at the campus located at 15301 Youngwood Dr. in Whittier.
Police spokesman Officer John Scoggins declined to name the suspect because of the ongoing investigation. He said the case is now with the District Attorney’s Office and detectives will meet with the prosecutor next week.
No charges have been filed.
Beltran, who was preparing his team for Friday’s season opener against Eastlake High in Chula Vista, didn’t return several calls for comment.
“Following allegations of an incident involving physical restraint of a special needs student, a La Serna High School teacher, who is also a member of the school’s athletics staff, was placed on paid administrative leave last week pending the outcome of an investigation,” Rich Russell, assistant superintendent of personnel for the Whittier Union High School District, said in a press release. “However, after violating the terms of his paid leave, the employee has been removed from his coaching position and remains on paid administrative leave from his teaching position.”
The release didn’t say what Beltran did to violate the conditions of his leave.

— Staff writer Ruby Gonzales contributed to this report

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