DENVER - Oscar Ponce was a rising star in Denver Public Schools as both a coach and a counselor. On Tuesday, the immigrant who became an All-American athlete and then a mentor whose story has been mentioned in national magazines, was accused of sexual assault on a child.
The former star at the University of Colorado was coaching at Lincoln High School and has made a name for himself helping disadvantaged kids.
The charge came as a shock to students and parents at Lincoln on Tuesday. They told 9NEWS Ponce is a great coach and mentor and he has created a legacy of changing young lives around by coaching track and cross country.
Denver Police arrested the 34-year-old on Tuesday on one count of investigation of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust.
Police aren't releasing any more details about that charge, and how it came about due to the nature of the crime and the age of the victim.
9NEWS has learned Ponce left Mexico when he was 14 years-old. When he came to Denver he was unable to speak English.
He became an All-State cross country and track runner at Denver's North High School.
In 1995, Ponce was the first person in his family to graduate from high school.
In college, he became a six-time all-big 12 runner at CU where he graduated, and then got a masters degree from Boston University.
In 2008, Ponce started the cross country program at Lincoln High where he helped troubled teens and those with language barriers.
In an article last March by the Boulder Daily Camera, Ponce says he would often stay late at school to mentor and advise kids.
Word of Ponce's arrest spread quickly at school on Tuesday.
"It grosses me out for someone to do that, to a child that's wrong, but then again knowing him and seeing him around the school all the time, it's not possible for him to do that because he's been a good guy and it's hard to think of something low of someone who was highly respected here," Jasmin Gonzalez, a Lincoln sophomore, said.
"If they can prove it was him, that's pretty bad, that type of person cannot work with kids, shouldn't be around our kids because pretty much they can hurt our kids," Miriam Marreufo, a Lincoln High parent, said.
Denver Public Schools has placed Ponce on paid administrative leave.
Last year he was nominated as the district's spotlight teacher.
This is what that article said about Ponce:
"Oscar Ponce is a DPS school counselor, and in the off-time serves as a cross country and track coach for Lincoln High School. Mr. Ponce is motivated and encouraging to his students. He is constantly pushing his student and athletes to maximize their potential. Mr. Ponce is continuing to grow the Lincoln Cross Country and Track Program. He is a Denver North alum. Mr. Ponce also ran cross country for the University of Colorado at Boulder where he was a stellar athlete. He is a positive role model for his students and community. Mr. Ponce is constantly asking what is the best for our students and profession."
Ponce is still in custody at the Downtown Detention Center on a $50,000 bond. His next hearing is on Wednesday morning.
9NEWS did stop by his home, which is not far from the school, and no one came to the door.
9NEWS also reached a family member by phone and they told us the family has no comment.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)