Soccer Coach Charged With 9 More Sex Abuse Counts in Teen’s Death

LOS ANGELES – Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, the former youth soccer coach already facing charges in connection with the death of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez, will now face nine additional counts of sexual abuse. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson announced the new charges Tuesday, alleging the abuse occurred between September 2022 and July 2023, involving another player Garcia-Aquino coached.

The additional charges consist of eight counts of sodomy with a minor under the age of 16 and one count of oral copulation with a minor. Garcia-Aquino pleaded not guilty to these new allegations during a hearing in downtown Los Angeles. Representatives from the Los Angeles County public defender’s office, which is representing the coach, have not yet issued a comment.

This development adds another layer of complexity to a case that has already drawn intense scrutiny, not only for the tragic loss of Hernandez but also for questions surrounding the handling of prior allegations against Garcia-Aquino. The initial charges stemmed from Hernandez’s death in March 2025, where authorities allege the boy was sexually assaulted before dying of alcohol poisoning. Hernandez, who played for the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club, was last seen traveling with Garcia-Aquino to help with soccer jerseys.

The case has exposed significant issues within the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. A Los Angeles Times investigation revealed that the Sheriff’s Department had presented prosecutors with evidence of a prior sexual assault allegation against Garcia-Aquino nearly a year before Hernandez’s death. However, a warrant for Garcia-Aquino’s arrest in that case wasn’t sought until shortly before Hernandez’s body was discovered in a ditch in Ventura County.

According to Thompson, the victim in the nine newly filed counts is the same individual whose allegations prompted the earlier investigation. The delay in pursuing charges in that initial case was attributed to a backlog of over 10,000 cases inherited by District Attorney Nathan Hochman from his predecessor, George Gascón. Hochman subsequently ordered prosecutors to expedite reviews of cases involving sexual abuse or family violence following the publication of the Times report.

Garcia-Aquino, 43, and now 44, remains in jail without bail. He is also accused of sexually assaulting a third minor in Sylmar in 2022, a case investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department. Prosecutors are considering whether to seek the death penalty against Garcia-Aquino. A preliminary hearing is expected to last four days and will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

Both of the surviving alleged victims are expected to testify against Garcia-Aquino at the preliminary hearing, Thompson stated in court. The case has sent shockwaves through the local soccer community and raised serious questions about the safety of young athletes and the processes for vetting coaches.

The timeline of events reveals a disturbing pattern. The alleged abuse detailed in the new charges occurred over a period of roughly ten months, from September 2022 to July 2023. This timeframe overlaps with Garcia-Aquino’s coaching duties at the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club and precedes the tragic death of Oscar Hernandez by several months. The fact that multiple alleged victims have come forward underscores the severity of the accusations and the potential for a protracted legal battle.

The case also highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement and prosecutors in handling complex investigations involving allegations of sexual abuse. The backlog of cases, as detailed in the Los Angeles Times report, created significant delays in pursuing justice for victims and potentially allowed Garcia-Aquino to continue his alleged predatory behavior. The District Attorney’s office’s commitment to expediting reviews of similar cases is a step in the right direction, but the long-term impact of the backlog remains to be seen.

Garcia-Aquino’s next court appearance is scheduled for late March. The outcome of the preliminary hearing will be crucial in determining the future of the case and whether Garcia-Aquino will stand trial on the charges against him. The Hernandez family and the other alleged victims are seeking justice and accountability, and the legal proceedings are expected to be closely watched by the community.