Southern Utah coach arrested for alleged ‘unlawful kissing of a minor’

HILDALE, Utah (ABC4) — A high school assistant coach was arrested Tuesday in Hildale, a city on the Utah-Arizona border, after allegedly having an “inappropriate relationship” with a student-athlete, according to court documents.

Aaron Lacorti, 37, was arrested on Tuesday, March 18, on one count of unlawful kissing of a 16-year-old student. Lacorti was an assistant coach at Water Canyon High School in Hildale, and documents say the victim was an athlete at the school.

According to authorities, Lacorti is accused of “making out” with the victim at a location deemed “The Rock” in the southern Utah town. Authorities were first informed of the alleged “romantic relationship” by an anonymous caller and contacted the victim and her parents.

At first, the victim did not disclose any information, but later, the parents said she had spoken about her relationship with the coach to her sister. The victim later told authorities of the alleged unlawful kissing in a forensic interview and provided a letter from Lacorti that said they needed to “distance for a while,” documents say.

On Tuesday, authorities contacted Lacorti while at school. Lacorti denied the charge and gave police his phone. Documents say he allegedly told police “that there was stuff on the phone that we would find but nothing sexual.”

Lacorti was booked in the Washington County Jail. He no longer has access to the school pending the investigation.