A South Bay badminton coach has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a teen girl, Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies said on Thursday.

Deputies say 37-year-old Khankham Malaythong, of San Jose, had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl he had been coaching. He works as a coach at Synergy Badminton in Menlo Park.

Deputies say park rangers found Malaythong in his 2018 Maserati SUV in Joseph Grant Park past hours with the 17-year-old girl in the car.

No other details have been released about the case.

Malaythong was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of annoying/molesting a minor and sexual assault.

He was released after posting bail.

An employee confirmed that the 37-year-old still taught at Synergy badminton.

However the company says Malaythong is no longer employed with the organization. 

Synergy Badminton Academy in Menlo Park today confirmed that Khankham Malaythong, formerly a coach at the badminton academy is no longer employed with the organization. Synergy has cooperated with authorities in their investigation. Synergy will not tolerate behavior that runs counter to its operating philosophy or that jeopardizes the well-being of people enrolled in badminton training at the academy.

Malaythong is a former Olympian and six-time winner of the United States National Badminton Championships in doubles.

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:

>>MORE STORIES