Former Charter School Coach Pleads No Contest to Statutory Rape

A former athletic director and soccer coach at a now-shuttered charter school near Redwood City has pleaded no contest to statutory rape and other charges involving two students, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday, May 28. Anthony Giovanny Gutierrez-Molina, 31, a resident of Palo Alto, worked at Summit Everest High School in North Fair Oaks, which was operated by Summit Public Schools and closed last year.

Gutierrez-Molina entered the plea on May 27 to three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and two counts of felony oral copulation with a minor, in exchange for the dismissal of other charges. According to prosecutors, Gutierrez-Molina became overly friendly with a 16-year-old girl in the community engagement program he ran at the school.

In March 2023, he brought her to his home and had sex with her. Their sexual interactions also occurred on school property and continued until November 2024, ending only after his wife told him she was pregnant, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

A second girl was also drawn into illegal sexual relations with Gutierrez-Molina, and they had sex three times at his home. Summit spokesperson Izzy Mason expressed deep sympathy for the victims and families, calling the abuse serious and unacceptable.

Summit had previously sought to quash a search warrant for records related to its own investigation. Court documents show Summit learned of at least one relationship in September 2025, six months before Gutierrez-Molina’s arrest.

Records indicate Summit reported him to police that fall, but an attorney-prepared report was initially withheld citing attorney-client privilege. The dispute was resolved through a joint agreement between Summit and the District Attorney’s Office, though details remain sealed.

Gutierrez-Molina is scheduled for sentencing on September 8 and faces up to two years and eight months in state prison. He was originally held on $1 million bail but is now out on $500,000 bail.