Trial set for Clovis gym owner accused of relationship with girl, 16. He says she’s lying
The 32-year-old owner of a Clovis training gym is facing a misdemeanor charge for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old female client.
But the gym owner, Richard Lazaro, denies the allegations, saying the girl made the whole thing up. He’s also taken the unusual step of suing his accuser and her family for slander, claiming they have nearly ruined his business and reputation.
Additionally, Lazaro’s attorney maintains the defendant was set up by the girl, who allegedly used an app that creates fake messages — and, they say, they’ve got the evidence to prove it.
Court records show the teenager began training at Lazaro’s gym, Nemesis Sports Academy, during the summer of 2018. The gym and its coaches have become a favorite for elite high school athletes intent on improving their strength and conditioning.
What the police affidavit says
The allegations against Lazaro are detailed in an affidavit by Clovis police Cpl. Shannon Griffith.
Griffith said that around late 2018 and early 2019 things began to change between the teenager and Lazaro.
The girl told Griffith she had developed romantic feelings for Lazaro and the two began sending each other messages on the social media app, Instagram, according to Griffith’s affidavit.
Their alleged relationship was exposed in late March when the girl’s mother and father noticed a strange number calling her daughter’s phone. When they asked her about, she initially lied and later admitted it was Lazaro. She told her parents he was calling about sports uniforms, but that wasn’t true, the affidavit says.
When they asked to see her phone, she gave it to them, but not before she began deleting messages, according to the affidavit.
In their conversations they talked about being a couple, buying a house and having children, the affidavit shows. Their talks were often punctuated by smiley face emojis with hearts for eyes.
The girl told police there wasn’t any intimate contact between them, and at times their relationship made her feel uncomfortable because “she knew his attention/intentions towards her were wrong,” Griffith wrote in the affidavit.
In one string of Instagram messages, Lazaro allegedly said: “Can we just have a baby now please. The alleged victim responds with “ya, I’m ready right now.” His response: “Ok come over then” and she said, “ok, coming.”
“What if you got pregnant first try,” Lazaro asked, according to the police affidavit.
The Fresno County District’ Attorney’s office declined to comment on Lazaro’s lawsuit or the criminal misdemeanor molestation charge against him, saying the case remains active and prosecutors cannot comment on any specifics related to the evidence or investigation.
Gym owner suing girl
Lazaro, who is married and has a child, denies anything inappropriate happened between him and the teenager. He says he tried counseling the teenager with some problems she was having at home. His defense attorney Sally Vecchiarelli said he had no idea the girl had become infatuated with him.
Lazaro, who grew up in the foster care system and has built a reputation as an advocate for troubled youth, has been hurt financially and personally, Vecchiarelli said.
In his 41-page lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Lazaro alleges the victim, her parents, and three others have waged a smear campaign against him. He is suing for harassment, defamation, criminal conspiracy, invasion of privacy and negligent infliction of emotional distress, among other things. He is seeking monetary damages to be determined at trial.
The families Lazaro is suing could not be reached for comment. But in the lawsuit he alleges they spread untrue rumors about him.
Lazaro’s civil lawyer Justin Vecchiarelli said the Instagram messages that on the surface appear to be sent Lazaro were actually fake. Vecchiarelli said the alleged victim used an app that allows users to create fake messages that could appear to be from anyone. The messages look like they come from a real account.
Justin Vecchiarelli obtained records from Instagram showing that Lazaro never sent the alleged victim any messages through Instagram.
Lazaro’s lawsuit alleges the parent’s comments have resulted in the loss of 30 clients, a coach, and several athletes from Sanger and Clovis unified schools. He is also no longer allowed to be involved in any USA Gymnastics or USA Weightlifting events.
Lazaro, who also works as a caseworker for Aspiranet, says he was investigated by his own employer. The organization helps foster children transition into adulthood.
And the 2018 designation his gym received as a A Safe Place – a national outreach program designed to provide help for young people in crisis – has been revoked.
Sally Vecchiarelli said that although the charge against Lazaro is a misdemeanor, that’s not what he is worried about.
“This case requires sex offender registration,” Vecchiarelli said. “If he’s found guilty, his whole life is over. He can’t have a gym, and he couldn’t coach children. Nothing that he does now, he would be able to do. “
Lazaro is expected in court on July 2 for a pre-trial hearing.
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 4:34 PM.
