Former Seaside HS athletic director accused of stealing money

A former athletic director for Seaside High School is accused of stealing money from students. Steven Rojas is facing three charges including practicing medicine without a license, forgery and embezzlement.

Student athletes have to undergo physicals by licensed medical staff prior to competing in sports programs. Prosecutors said Rojas fabricated that requirement and did not bring in medical staff and instead performed physical exams himself.

“What Mr. Rojas did was he cancelled the doctor, proceeded to perform his own physicals on the students, forged documents indicating that in fact a medical provider or personnel had performed the physicals and the money is missing,” said Berkley Brannon, chief assistant district attorney for the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

31 students paid $25 each for the exams. Prosecutors say Rojas pocketed the $775.

According to court transcripts obtained by KION, Rojas was witnessed taking students’ blood pressures, heart rates and having them do stretches and bends before they were later given the all clear.

A witness reported the incident and the school district took immediate action.

According to a statement by Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, “We immediately referred the case to the local authorities to investigate. Parents of impacted students were informed, and the individual is no longer employed by the district.”

One student told KION he is concerned over fundraising efforts he did on behalf of Rojas, a claim not included in the court transcripts.

Jordan Banon’s parents contacted KION about the former athletic director. Jordan said he raised money under the belief it was going to the school basketball program.

“It was gonna go to the basketball program,” Banon said. “It was going to be fundraising for a shooting machine and new jerseys for the year.”

But the school said it was unaware of any fundraising for that and if it did take place, where that money went.

Rojas left his position in Seaside and took another job in Oregon. He was extradited to Monterey County to face those charges. He has pleaded not guilty and has been released on bail. If convicted, he could face three years in the county jail.