Criminal proceedings suspended against former swim coach accused of sexual misconduct

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Criminal proceedings against Cameron Ward were suspended Wednesday.

Instead, the former Fresno Unified employee was placed in handcuffs and ordered to prison for a 90-day diagnostic evaluation.

Ward is accused of sexual assault on a teenager.

The evaluation process was set to help the judge reach a fair sentencing decision.

"Mr. Ward came to court anticipating he would be serving some jail time even if probation was granted," said Defense Attorney Jeff Hammerschmidt.

Ward was arrested back in April on felony charges of sexual battery while working as a library technician at Malloch Elementary School in Northwest Fresno.

According to police, Ward met two teenage girls at Sunnyside High School while serving as a swim coach there during the 2013 to 2014 school year and assaulted one of them.

He is also accused of sending inappropriate sexual photos to a victim.

A former Sunnyside student is now suing Ward and the school district for allowing the inappropriate conduct to take place. Ward's defense attorney suggests his client's mental health may come into question.

"Mr. Ward does have some mental health issues that we are addressing that many people suffer from so that's one of the reasons he's going to need some help in that area," said Hammerschmidt.