YUMA, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say a 22-year-old man accused of posing as a student at two Arizona high schools so he could earn a basketball scholarship has been charged with three counts of forgery and 11 counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
Bail for Anthony Avalos was ordered to remain at $110,865 on Monday, during his arraignment in Yuma Justice Court.
Avalos was arrested Nov. 5 on allegations that he'd been fraudulently attending two Yuma schools — Kofa High School and Vista Alternative School — intermittently since September 2008. He actually graduated from a Florida high school in 2005.
Police say Avalos admitted he created a fake birth certificate to enroll in the schools, and admitted he had sex several times with a girl he knew was under 18.
Investigators say Avalos told them he posed as a high school student because he wanted to play basketball and earn a college scholarship.
An after-hours call to Avalos' attorney was not immediately returned Tuesday.
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Information from: The Sun, http://www.yumasun.com
