An attorney for the relatives of Oscar Omar Hernandez, the 13-year-old Sun Valley boy who was found dead April 2, said they are “exploring all legal options” to seek justice on behalf of the Hernandez-Bautista family for their tragic loss.
“Right now we’re supporting the family through the criminal process, but also looking at all options to hold those responsible who allowed this person [Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino] to coach and to be near children,” Michael Carrillo told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol. Garcia Aquino, who was Oscar’s soccer coach, was charged with first-degree murder in his death.
Carrillo said they don’t have details to share with the public yet regarding what legal recourse they will choose to pursue, but noted, “We should have some announcements coming soon.”
According to Carrillo, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office failed to file timely charges against Garcia Aquino following an alleged incident in February 2024, when a 16-year-old boy accused the coach of sexual assault. He was not charged with that crime until April 2 – the same day Oscar’s body was found in a ditch off the side of a road near Leo Carrillo State Beach in Oxnard.
On April 8, Garcia Aquino was also charged with felony sexual assault in a 2022 case involving a 14- or 15-year-old teen. Authorities said the alleged incident, which was investigated at the time but never previously charged, took place at Garcia Aquino’s former residence in Sylmar.
Garcia Aquino “should have never [been allowed] to roam the streets,” said Carrillo.
The DA’s office said it inherited a backlog of 10,000 criminal cases from former District Attorney George Gascón, saying in a statement, “Any unaddressed case is one too many, and this office will work diligently to address them all in as timely a manner as possible. We owe it to the victims and their families to bring them justice for the harm they have suffered.”
“We’re not leaving anything off the table at this point,” said Carrillo regarding any potential lawsuits. In some cases, he acknowledged, lawsuits are sometimes filed against the criminal perpetrator in addition to other entities to seek financial restitution for surviving loved ones.
“We appreciate all of the support that has come from the community for [Oscar’s] family – this family needs it because of all the crisis and trauma that they’ve been through, and that they will continue to go through,” added Carrillo.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office is still investigating the cause and manner of death in Oscar’s case. Carrillo said it can sometimes take 90 days for an autopsy report to be completed, or up to 180 days for autopsies that require toxicology testing, he explained.
Following a second postponement of the arraignment hearing for Garcia Aquino last week, the former soccer coach is now expected back in court to enter a plea for the murder charge on June 18. He currently remains in custody without bail.
The murder charge includes a special circumstance allegation that would make the 43-year-old accused killer eligible for a potential death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Authorities continue to seek any other potential victims of Garcia Aquino.
To contact the Los Angeles Police Department, call (818) 374-5415. To contact the LA Sheriff’s Department, call (877) 710-5273.
Information may also be provided anonymously via the LA Regional Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
In 2006 Jeremy Bell legislation was proposed on behalf of Jeremy Bell , a 12 year old student who was drugged molested and murdered by his elementary school principal in 1997. The 2006 legislation became the language In the 2013 HR 2083 protecting students from sexual and violent predators. Act unanimously passed by all of Congress, The 2006 proposed Jeremy Bell legislation became the language in the 2013 2083 protecting students from sexual violent predators act. In 2013 all of Congress unanimously passed the HR 2083 . The nation was asked to call their US senators to make the act law to prevent it from happening to another student . The the federal and state government fail habituallyto respond in the face of clear and present K12 dangers. After the Senate failed to make it law anyways. The health committee wouldn’t hear anything about protecting students in schools nationwide.
With that being said suggests that making had the HR 2083 protecting students from sexual and violent predators act, been made law in 2013 could’ve saved Oscar Omar Hernandez’s life in 2025.