Illegal Immigrant Soccer Coach Facing Death Penalty

A youth soccer coach in Southern California, who is an illegal immigrant, may be sentenced to death for the alleged rape and murder of a player.

Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, originally from El Salvador, has been indicted on additional charges of child molestation alongside accusations of raping 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez in March 2025 and leaving his body on a roadside.

The Los Angeles District Attorney has filed nine new charges against the 44-year-old, adding to the serious accusations he already faced for sex-related crimes involving two other teenage boys, which date back to incidents in December 2022 and February 2024.

The new indictment includes eight counts related to sodomy of a minor under 16 and one count of oral copulation of a minor under 16, implicating one of the two surviving alleged victims, as outlined in an updated court complaint.

Garcia-Aquino, through his attorney, has pleaded not guilty to these latest charges.

He worked as a traveling youth soccer coach in the Sylmar area of the San Fernando Valley, coming into contact with various age groups of boys.

Reportedly, Hernandez was last seen alive on March 28, 2025, when he left his Sun Valley home to meet with his coach, Garcia-Aquino. His family reported him missing two days later when he didn’t return home and stopped responding to calls. Sadly, his body was discovered a few days later on a remote road.

Last year, the Department of Homeland Security made a statement about a case involving a “depraved” illegal immigrant.

They described Oscar “Omar” Hernandez as an innocent child who fell victim to this “corrupt” individual. The DHS emphasized that under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, efforts would be made to track down and remove child predators and murderers from communities.

Garcia-Aquino remains in jail without bail as he awaits a hearing to determine if the case will move forward to trial. A public hearing is set for March 27th.