Topline: The man also faces separate allegations of sexual assault against other juvenile boys.
Published: April 9, 2025 7:30 am ET
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Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino (via LAPD)
LOS ANGELES, CA – A youth soccer coach has been charged with murdering a 13-year-old boy, whose body was found by the side of the road in Ventura County last week.
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, was charged with murder with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child, making him eligible for the death penalty, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced.
On March 28, 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez was reported missing by his family after he boarded a train to Lancaster to visit Garcia-Aquino and wasn’t heard from again.
Garcia-Aquino is accused of killing Oscar and then dumping his body in Oxnard.
The complaint was amended on April 8 to include one felony count each of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense and lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 years old.
On Dec. 10, 2022, Garcia-Aquino allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager at his then-home in Sylmar.
Garcia-Aquino faces a possible maximum sentence of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
He also has been charged in another case with one felony count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense. Garcia-Aquino is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale on Feb. 22, 2024. If convicted as charged, he faces a possible maximum sentence of six years in state prison in that case.
“No parent should ever have to endure the unimaginable pain and sorrow of learning their child has been murdered,” District Attorney Hochman said. “Oscar simply boarded a train and little did he or his family know that he would never return. Sexual predators who target victims for their own gratification will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Additional victims or anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Juvenile Division, Abused Child Unit at (818) 374-5415 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273. Information also may be provided anonymously by phone to the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Death Penalty Possible for Soccer Coach Accused of Murdering Young Boy
The man also faces separate allegations of sexual assault against other juvenile boys.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 9, 2025 7:30 am ET
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino (via LAPD)
LOS ANGELES, CA – A youth soccer coach has been charged with murdering a 13-year-old boy, whose body was found by the side of the road in Ventura County last week.
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, was charged with murder with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child, making him eligible for the death penalty, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced.
On March 28, 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez was reported missing by his family after he boarded a train to Lancaster to visit Garcia-Aquino and wasn’t heard from again.
Garcia-Aquino is accused of killing Oscar and then dumping his body in Oxnard.
The complaint was amended on April 8 to include one felony count each of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense and lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 years old.
On Dec. 10, 2022, Garcia-Aquino allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager at his then-home in Sylmar.
Garcia-Aquino faces a possible maximum sentence of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
He also has been charged in another case with one felony count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense. Garcia-Aquino is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale on Feb. 22, 2024. If convicted as charged, he faces a possible maximum sentence of six years in state prison in that case.
“No parent should ever have to endure the unimaginable pain and sorrow of learning their child has been murdered,” District Attorney Hochman said. “Oscar simply boarded a train and little did he or his family know that he would never return. Sexual predators who target victims for their own gratification will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Additional victims or anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Juvenile Division, Abused Child Unit at (818) 374-5415 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273. Information also may be provided anonymously by phone to the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Death Penalty Possible for Soccer Coach Accused of Murdering Young Boy
The man also faces separate allegations of sexual assault against other juvenile boys.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 9, 2025 7:30 am ET
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino (via LAPD)
LOS ANGELES, CA – A youth soccer coach has been charged with murdering a 13-year-old boy, whose body was found by the side of the road in Ventura County last week.
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, was charged with murder with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child, making him eligible for the death penalty, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced.
On March 28, 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez was reported missing by his family after he boarded a train to Lancaster to visit Garcia-Aquino and wasn’t heard from again.
Garcia-Aquino is accused of killing Oscar and then dumping his body in Oxnard.
The complaint was amended on April 8 to include one felony count each of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense and lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 years old.
On Dec. 10, 2022, Garcia-Aquino allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager at his then-home in Sylmar.
Garcia-Aquino faces a possible maximum sentence of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
He also has been charged in another case with one felony count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense. Garcia-Aquino is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale on Feb. 22, 2024. If convicted as charged, he faces a possible maximum sentence of six years in state prison in that case.
“No parent should ever have to endure the unimaginable pain and sorrow of learning their child has been murdered,” District Attorney Hochman said. “Oscar simply boarded a train and little did he or his family know that he would never return. Sexual predators who target victims for their own gratification will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Additional victims or anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Juvenile Division, Abused Child Unit at (818) 374-5415 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273. Information also may be provided anonymously by phone to the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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