Soccer Coach Charged in Murder of 13-Year-Old Boy

Suspect Arrested and Charged

• ⚽ A soccer coach, identified as Mario Garcia Aquino, has been charged in the murder of a 13-year-old boy, Oscar Hernandez.
• ⚖️ Aquino, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, appeared in court for the first time.
• 💔 The victim's family expressed outrage that Aquino had prior accusations of sexually assaulting a minor.

Prior Accusations and New Charges

• ⚠️ Aquino was previously arrested and charged in 2024 for the sexual assault of another minor.
• 📅 He was also charged today with the assault of another minor in 2022.
• 🚫 The family questioned how the suspect could be free and coaching children despite previous accusations.

Investigation and Potential Penalty

• 📍 Investigators believe Hernandez was killed after visiting his coach in Glendale, though the cause of death has not been released.
• 🚗 His body was found in a ditch on a roadside in Oxnard.
• 🚨 The case has special circumstances involving lewd acts with a child, and if convicted, Garcia Aquino could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

Court Proceedings

• 🗓️ Today's arraignment was postponed, and the suspect is being held without bail.
• 📅 Aquino is due back in court on April 30th.