Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged youth soccer coach Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, 43, with the murder of 13-year-old Oscar "Omar" Hernandez. According to FOX 11, Garcia Aquino was arrested last week and is now facing a special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child. The victim's body was found in Oxnard, days after he was reported missing following a trip to Lancaster to meet the soccer coach.
Garcia Aquino is also facing separate charges involving an alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy in an unrelated case from February 2024. ABC7 included a statement from the district attorney, Nathan Hochman, who said, "Sexual predators who target victims for their own gratification will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." The charge could lead to a maximum sentence of six years in state prison.
The teen's body was discovered last week by the side of a road in Oxnard, according to a joint press conference held by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office and law enforcement agencies covered by KTLA. Investigators found Hernandez's body almost a week after Garcia Aquino allegedly murdered the teen, with a cause of death still unknown.
Authorities have now turned their attention to searching for additional victims whom Garcia Aquino may have sexually assaulted. In a recent announcement, as reported by NBC Los Angeles, Garcia Aquino could face at least life in prison without the possibility of parole on the murder charge. Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized the importance of community information, stating, "If, for some reason, anybody fears coming forward even as a youth or family because you may be here undocumented, we 're not going to ask about that. Please, you need to come forward. We will assist you."
As Garcia Aquino is due for arraignment, the district attorney has indicated that the death penalty is being considered. However, this outcome remains unlikely due to Gov. Gavin Newsom's moratorium on executions in California.
