School Coach Charged Over Steroids, Counterfeit Money, By: Sara Lin

June 10, 2006, Times Staff Writer

A Tustin High School wrestling coach has been charged with possession of steroids and counterfeit money, prosecutors said Friday.

Tustin Unified School District officials said there were no indications that Ramon Hernandez Serrano distributed the muscle-building drugs to students. He has been placed on administrative leave.

Acting on a tip, police searched Serrano's Santa Ana home and said they found two bottles of injectable steroids and nine counterfeit $50 bills in his bedroom.

The fake money was found in an envelope, the steroids in a closet, authorities said.

"Most of the case was about counterfeiting. The steroids were a happenstance," said Tustin Police Sgt. Paul Garaven.

Serrano, 27, was an assistant varsity wrestling coach and one of several campus supervisors at Tustin High School.

He had worked with the district for seven years and began coaching the wrestling team three years ago, school officials said.

Serrano is charged with misdemeanor possession of oxymetholone and boldenone. Based on the small amount of the drugs allegedly found, Garaven suspected they were for personal use.

"There's nothing that leads us to believe there's an immediate concern toward any of the kids," Garaven said.

Possessing counterfeit money is a felony, prosecutors said. Serrano could face up to three years in prison if convicted. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Serrano was released from custody on $20,000 bail.