The three cases The three cases (September 28, 2005)

Tony Graham

On Aug. 5, Tony Graham, 28, -- a longtime leader of the Palo Alto Explorers program -- was arrested on charges of having sexual encounters with three underage girls, ages 14-17, and videotaping them in three separate incidents from August 2003 to July 2005.

While in police custody, Graham admitted to having sex with the three underage girls in the program and wrote apologies to each, according to police reports on file in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

Graham treated the girls to dinners, concerts and gifts, such as CDs and bracelets, according to police reports. The girls reportedly gave officers some of those presents, along with love letters Graham wrote.

Two of the 15 charges against Graham accuse him of videotaping his sexual encounters with the girls, at times without their knowledge or consent, according to police reports.

Graham is currently out of jail on $200,000 bail. He will appear in court Oct. 14 and could enter a plea.
Bill Giordano

Two weeks after Graham's arrest, longtime Jordan Middle School coach and teacher Bill Giordano, 59, was arrested Aug. 18 at his Menlo Park home for an alleged sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student 14 years ago, according to police reports.

A second molestation charge was filed Sept. 9 at his arraignment in San Mateo County Superior Court and involved a 13-year-old girl in 2002.

He is now charged with 24 felony counts of sexual molestation and could face more than 20 years in prison, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Giordano remains in San Mateo County Jail on $1 million bail. His preliminary hearing is Oct. 26.
Jeff van Gastel

Former Palo Alto High School girls' soccer coach and substitute teacher Jeff van Gastel, 34, hosted a postseason party in June for his De Anza Force girls' club soccer team where he served alcohol to four 18-year-old players and later had sex with three of them, according to court documents.

Van Gastel, who was a prominent coach in South Bay youth soccer, pled no contest to four misdemeanor counts of serving alcohol to persons under 21 years old at his arraignment Sept. 12 in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. He received two years probation and a $3,180 fine.

The convictions stem from allegations of "sexual assault" made a week after the party by two of the women. A San Jose Police Department report filed with the court concluded the women were not minors and did not appear to be forced into any sexual activity, although they told police their "judgment was impaired because they were intoxicated," according to police reports.

Van Gastel served as Paly's varsity girls' soccer coach for six years. He resigned from that post in August to take a job at Menlo College as an assistant women's soccer coach. He was suspended from the Menlo position after his arrest Aug. 10.

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