Law enforcement has been urging victims to come forward following the arrest of Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, the soccer coach charged with first-degree murder of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez. Since news broke about Oscar’s death, it’s now confirmed that two other teens accused the coach of sexual assaults, one in 2022 and another in 2024, but no charges were filed in those cases until last week.
A 17-year-old from the San Fernando Valley, who was 16 years old when he first reported being sexually assaulted by Garcia Aquino in 2024, spoke with a media outlet this week and anonymously shared his story.
He said he first met Garcia Aquino when he was 15 and briefly moved in with him and his son last year. He said he was drugged and sexually attacked during the early morning hours and reported the sexual assault after it happened, but Garcia Aquino was not charged with the crime until April 2, the same day Oscar’s body was found in Ventura County. That case has been in the DA’s office for a year.
Oscar’s family is now asking why charges weren’t filed earlier and make the point if Garcia Aquino was prosecuted and in prison it would have prevented the death of Oscar.
Since Oscar’s death, the community has been holding nighttime vigils at the Hernandez home.
Authorities continue to encourage any other possible victims to call the LAPD at (818) 374-5415 or the LA Sheriff’s Department at (877) 710-5273. Anonymous tips can be provided via the LA Regional Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.