BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A former McFarland basketball coach, who pleaded no contest to offering a 15-year-old teen a varsity spot in return for sexual favors, was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison.
Fernando Pruneda was arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor in 2018. Pruneda pleaded no contest last month to arranging a meeting with a minor to commit a sexual offense.
During the sentencing hearing, the teen said he can forgive Pruneda, but he will never forget and will forever be traumatized by what Pruneda did.
Pruneda must also register as a sex offender.
An investigation into the high school coach was launched after a McFarland High School sophomore reported inappropriate sexual contact with the coach. According to court documents, Pruneda repeatedly contacted the boy via text message.
The student also said Pruneda offered to take the student to a basketball tournament in Nevada and told him not to say anything to anyone and to tell his parents the whole team is going while informing the boy they would have to share a bed.
