KHTS News brought to you by

A basketball coach who had earned the respect of several local families when he coached their daughters is facing six years in prison after pleading no contest to two felony counts; sexual penetration by a foreign object and unlawful sexual intercourse and one misdemeanor count of child molesting.

Kevin Lamont Thomas, 40, had been coaching three Canyon High basketball players as well as some players from the Hart women’s team when he was arrested June 10 by the Los Angeles Police Department. He was also a basketball coach and special education teacher’s assistant at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys.

Four of Thomas’s victims were in court Thursday and told Judge Karen Nudell about their experience. Nudell ordered Thomas back to court for sentencing Nov. 21. He is expected to be sentenced to six years in state prison.

Upon sentencing, the defendant may not contact the victims in the case or any underage female students whom he coached. Thomas, who will be required to register as a sex offender, also will be prohibited from coaching any minor girls in the future.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement, 14 counts are expected to be dismissed at the time of sentencing. The defendant has been in custody since his arrest in June.