Tustin High coach faces steroid-possession charge, By: Teri Sforza

Police say a search of Ramon Serrano's house also turned up fake $50 bills.

June 4, 2006, The Orange County Register

A well-liked wrestling coach at Tustin High School was arrested last week on charges of possessing steroids and fake money, police said.

Ramon Serrano, 27, was booked into Orange County Jail on Wednesday and posted bail Thursday. He is on administrative leave from the school, pending the results of an investigation.

Acting on information from a confidential source, Tustin police got a warrant to search Serrano's car and home. In his Santa Ana bedroom, they say they found a small amount of steroids - apparently for personal use, not for sale - as well as nine fake $50 bills, Sgt. Paul Garaven said.

Despite rumors flying around Tustin High, no one is asserting that Serrano gave steroids to students.

"This has nothing to do with campus and did not involve students at the school at all," said Mark Eliot, spokesman for the Tustin Unified School District.

The steroid charge is a misdemeanor, Tustin Sgt. Garaven said, but the fake money charge is a "wobbler" - it could be considered either a misdemeanor or a felony. It's up to the District Attorney's Office to file charges.

Serrano's record is pretty clean, though, and if misdemeanor charges are filed and Serrano is found guilty, he could face nothing more than probation, Garaven said.

At Tustin High, Serrano's primary job is as a "campus supervisor" - acting as the eyes and ears of the administration, keeping an eye on kids during lunchtime and recess and checking visitors who come on and off campus, Eliot said.

Serrano has worked at Tustin High for seven years and helped develop Tustin High's wrestling team as it faces off against rival Foothill High.

On Saturday, Serrano could not be reached for comment.