Illegal Immigrant Charged with Murder and Sexual Crimes
An undocumented immigrant from El Salvador has been arrested for allegedly murdering a 13-year-old boy, Oscar “Omar” Hernandez. This case has taken a disturbing turn, as the suspect is also facing serious sexual crime charges involving underage victims.
The investigation began after the body of Hernandez was discovered on a roadside in Oxnard last April. He had gone missing following a train trip intended to visit a horse-drawn carriage in Lancaster.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized the tragedy of Hernandez’s death, stating, “This innocent child was exploited and murdered by an individual who had no right to be in this country.”
The exact cause of the teen’s death has not been made public. The suspect, 44-year-old Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, was found to be living in the U.S. illegally and worked as a youth soccer coach for the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club. Remarkably, he had no criminal record prior to this incident.
As the investigation unfolded, authorities discovered additional alleged victims, leading to further charges. Garcia-Aquino now faces eight counts of sodomy involving a minor under 16, along with one count of oral copulation with a minor of the same age. The updated charges can be found in an amended court document.
One of the additional victims was allowed to stay in Garcia-Aquino’s home in Palmdale after his family formed a friendship with him. Reports indicate that Garcia-Aquino assaulted this 14-year-old in December 2022, during which he allegedly had the intent to commit sexual acts.
Despite the accumulating evidence, Garcia-Aquino has pleaded not guilty through his attorney.
In addition to the murder charges, prosecutors have included a special circumstance charge relating to the alleged crime’s connection to an indecent act against a child.
The Department of Homeland Security made a statement expressing the severity of the situation, reiterating the need for better protection for children. Currently, prosecutors are deliberating on whether to pursue the death penalty in this case against Garcia-Aquino.
