Crime

A jury on Sept. 6 convicted a soccer club coach of sexually molesting a 14-year-old boy who played on the team, the District Attorney’s Office announced.

A jury of seven men and five women deliberated about two hours before finding Javier Arrioja, 49, guilty of five felony counts of lewd act on a child aged 14 and one felony count of sending or depicting harmful matter. Deputy District Attorney Jane Creighton, of the Sex Crimes Division, prosecuted the case.

Arrioja was convicted of sexually molesting the 14-year-old boy on four occasions — between May and November 2011 — at various locations, including the defendant’s home and local parks, Creighton said. The fifth charge involved Arrioja showing the minor a pornographic video.

The Los Angeles resident met the victim when he coached the “Missioneros”, a private soccer club for boys under age 17. Arrioja faces a maximum sentence of five years, eight months in state prison when he returns Sept. 25 for sentencing by Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta.

Tags | Javier Arrioja, Molestation, Soccer coach