LA youth soccer coach charged with teen's murder was in country illegally, sources say
Soccer coach accused of murder, sexual assault
Mario Garcia-Aquino has been charged with murdering 13-year-old Oscar Hernandez while trying to sexually assault him. He's also been accused of sexually assaulting other teen boys over the last few years.
LOS ANGELES - A California youth soccer coach who was charged with the murder of a 13-year-old boy was in the United States illegally, multiple law enforcement sources told FOX News.
The backstory:
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino is accused of killing 13-year-old soccer player Oscar "Omar" Hernandez, whose body was found last week in Oxnard.
According to LA County DA Nathan Hochman, Hernandez traveled to Lancaster on March 28 to see his soccer coach. His family reported him missing two days later. His body was discovered on the side of a road in Oxnard last Wednesday, April 2, about five days after Garcia-Aquino allegedly murdered the teen.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Oscar Omar Hernandez death: California 13-year-old's soccer coach arrested after teen's body found in Oxnard
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Criminal history
Dig deeper:
Garcia-Aquino is also charged in a separate case with a felony count of assault with the intent to commit a lewd act involving a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale on Feb. 22, 2024, Hochman said.
He could face up to six years in state prison if convicted on that case, which was filed last week.
He also faces one felony count each of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense and lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 years old. On Dec. 10, 2022, Garcia-Aquino allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager at his then-home in Sylmar.
Death penalty on the table for soccer coach
Death penalty is on the table for the California soccer coach accused of killing 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez, if convicted, according to LA County DA Nathan Hochman.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna -- who attended Monday's news conference, along with LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell -- noted that Garcia- Aquino was a youth travel soccer coach with the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club, working with different age divisions in the Sylmar area, and had no reported criminal history.
The assault charge involves a teen whose family was "befriended" by Garcia-Aquino and allowed their son to stay with him at his Palmdale residence, according to Luna. Authorities believe Garcia-Aquino may have been targeting boys from immigrant families so they would be less likely to report incidents to police in the United States.
The family subsequently notified the Palmdale Sheriff's Station about the alleged abuse, Luna said.
Immigration status
What we know:
Sources told Fox News on Tuesday that Garcia-Aquino is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador. Details of his immigration status are currently not known. It's unclear when Garcia-Aquino first arrived in the US.
What's next:
Garcia-Aquino's arraignment is set for April 30. In the wake of Hernandez's death and Garcia-Aquino's charges, Hochman said the death penalty is on the table.
Garcia-Aquino faces a possible maximum sentence of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
On Monday, April 7, Luna pleaded with the public to come forward with any information on Garcia-Aquino. He insists LASD will not hold immigration statuses against those who volunteer to speak with investigators.