Arraignment Postponed for Former Youth Wrestling Coach Accused of Providing Porn, Drugs, Alcohol to Kids

The arraignment of a former Murrieta youth wrestling coach accused of providing alcohol to minors and showing them pornographic films was set for Tuesday morning but has been rescheduled to Nov. 20.

Michael David Atkins, 44, of Temecula was arrested in June on suspicion of giving illegal substances to minors under 14; selling liquor to a minor; contributing to the delinquency of a minor and giving harmful matter to a minor.

At the time of his arrest, Atkins was serving as the coach of Golden Hawks Youth Wrestling Club. The club, affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), rented the gym at Murrieta Valley High School.

The arrest followed an extensive Murrieta police investigation into claims by a booster club member that Atkins had allegedly developed a personal friendship with at least three youths on the club team.

According to Murrieta police Sgt. Robert Anderson, the friendships were forged over a four-month period.

"An in-depth investigation revealed that the inappropriate actions took place off campus and there is no connection with the school or district," Anderson wrote in a news release.

Atkins was released from jail after posting $50,000 bond.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office in August filed criminal misdemeanor charges against Atkins, including one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor; one count of distributing harmful matter to a minor; and two counts of selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor, court records show.

The felony arrest charge of employing a minor to sell an illegal substance was not pursued by the DA's office, according to court records.

Editor’s Note: The outcome of these allegations, as well as the facts, may change as the case progresses through the legal system. Not all details of each investigation are made public. All items are alleged to have occurred. There should be no assumption of guilt.