A youth soccer coach allowed to remain free despite sheriff’s warnings allegedly murdered a 13-year-old boy while prosecutors sat on a 10,000-case backlog inherited from George Gascón’s administration.
Story Snapshot
- Undocumented Salvadoran coach faces nine new child sex abuse charges after murdering 13-year-old player Oscar Hernandez in March 2025
- LA County Sheriff requested charges against Mario Garcia-Aquino nearly a year before the murder, but massive DA backlog delayed the warrant
- Prosecutors now consolidate cases involving multiple victims abused between 2022 and 2025, with death penalty under consideration
- DHS condemns the case as an immigration enforcement failure, calling for removal of the “depraved illegal alien”
Bureaucratic Failure Enabled Predator’s Access
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, a 43-year-old undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, coached youth soccer at Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club in Sylmar while allegedly abusing multiple boys for years. LA County Sheriff’s Department investigated Garcia-Aquino for sexually assaulting a player and requested charges nearly a year before Oscar Hernandez’s death. Prosecutors delayed issuing a warrant until days before the March 2025 murder due to a backlog exceeding 10,000 cases inherited by current DA Nathan Hochman from his predecessor. This delay allowed Garcia-Aquino continued access to vulnerable children through his coaching position.
Betrayal of Trust Ends in Murder
On March 28, 2025, 13-year-old Oscar Hernandez traveled to Garcia-Aquino’s Lancaster home to help make soccer jerseys for the team. Prosecutors allege Garcia-Aquino murdered the boy during a lewd act, with Hernandez dying of alcohol poisoning. The family reported him missing two days later. Investigators discovered Hernandez’s body in a ditch near Oxnard on April 2, 2025. Garcia-Aquino had befriended the family through soccer, earning their trust to allow overnight visits. This manipulation of parental confidence through community sports exposes how predators exploit institutional access to children.
Pattern of Abuse Across Multiple Victims
On February 10, 2026, prosecutors added nine new counts against Garcia-Aquino: eight counts of sodomy with a minor under 16 and one count of oral copulation with a minor. These charges stem from repeated abuse of one victim between September 2022 and July 2023. Authorities consolidated three separate cases involving different boys, including a December 2022 assault on a 14-year-old in Sylmar and a February 2024 assault on a 16-year-old in Palmdale. LAPD’s Juvenile Division investigated the Sylmar incident while sheriff’s deputies handled the Palmdale case, all now unified under the murder prosecution.
Immigration Status Amplifies Accountability Debate
Garcia-Aquino entered the United States illegally as a “gotaway” from El Salvador, settling in California’s San Fernando Valley with no prior criminal record. The Department of Homeland Security condemned the case as an example of immigration enforcement failures under previous leadership, calling for the removal of dangerous illegal aliens. This case underscores legitimate concerns about vetting individuals who gain access to children through community organizations. The combination of prosecutorial delays and unchecked illegal immigration created conditions allowing a predator to victimize multiple children over years. Garcia-Aquino remains jailed without bail, facing potential death penalty consideration.
Prosecutorial Reforms Follow Media Exposure
A Los Angeles Times investigation exposed the DA office’s catastrophic case backlog, prompting Hochman to expedite sexual abuse case reviews after taking office. The backlog has since decreased from over 10,000 cases to approximately 4,000, representing a 60 percent reduction. Deputy DA Paul Thompson presented the new charges in court, citing additional evidence discovered during ongoing investigation. Garcia-Aquino pleaded not guilty through his public defender. A four-day preliminary hearing is scheduled for late March 2026, where victims are expected to testify. This case demonstrates how bureaucratic dysfunction and open border policies converge to endanger American families who simply wanted their sons to play soccer.
Sources:
Soccer coach charged with murder in Los Angeles – ABC News
