Former MLHS coach named in inappropriate relationships case
Former Moses Lake High School girls wrestling coach Juan David Peralez has been confirmed as the coach/substitute teacher who was let go after an investigation indicated that he had inappropriate relationships with three MLHS students.
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MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District officials verified the identify of former coach and substitute teacher Juan David Peralez as the individual whose employment was terminated Thursday after an investigation indicated he had inappropriate relationships with students.
“Mr. Peralez was terminated last night,” MLSD Director of Communications and Public Relations Ryan Shannon said.
Peralez was hired in 2021 as the girls wrestling coach. He has also previously served as an assistant coach and worked with the Moses Lake Wrestling Club. Shannon said Peralez’s identity wasn’t initially released because of questions regarding human resources concerns and policies.
Cpt. Jeff Sursely with the Moses Lake Police Department said the findings of the investigation, conducted by an independent investigator hired by the district and MLPD detectives, had been turned over to the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office for review. No charges had been filed as of Friday.
The Columbia Basin Herald has reached out to the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office to see how long it will take to review the case and determine if charges will move forward.
Shannon said all staff, including Peralez, who may come into contact with students, are put through a screening process that includes a Washington State Patrol background check and interviews.
“Anybody that applies to work for the district goes through the HR review process, so (the hiring manager) will look at applications to make sure they have the necessary qualifications to meet the job requirements,” Shannon said. “The hiring manager will review candidates and make the selections on the candidates they want to interview. And then they’ll go through that interview process. When you’re talking about coaches, and actually, anybody that’s going to work in the school district gets a background check. They all get a Washington State Patrol background check.”
That check includes being fingerprinted and having their records reviewed for criminal convictions.
A search for Peralez in the Odyssey Portal used by Washington courts did not pull up any criminal activity.