Post by SoccerMom on Sept 17, 2014 8:21:24 GMT -5
DALLAS -
FOX 4's Heather Hays has an update on a Garland soccer coach who betrayed the trust of parents and children by sexually assaulting at least two boys.
There's usually a special bond between players and a coach. But that was destroyed for some by Bernardo Mondragon Guzman. In fact, some people believe he devastated an entire community.
“We grow really attached to our players and it's sad to think of the repercussions for the rest of the lives,” said Javier Pena, a coach with the Garland Soccer Association, said in 2012
Guzman coached in the league for five years. He was arrested in 2012 when Garland police said he sexually assaulted at least two boys. They suspected there were more victims.
“If a child has played or been coached by this coach and has ever been alone with this coach, there is a good chance that there's been a sexual assault or sexual contact,” said Joe Harn with the Garland Police Department.
Police said the encounters happened inside Guzman's pickup in his driveway or in his Garland home.
A 10-year-old player came forward in early September 2012 and that led to Guzman's arrest.
“The community has been impacted severely,” Connie Kaiwi with the League of United Latino Citizens said in 2012.
It was hard for police to get possible victims to speak, so local Latino groups joined the fight.
“We are all victims, the families as well as the children are victims and we want them to feel safe and comfortable to come forward,” Kaiwi said.
Another boy about the same age as the first victim also came forward claiming Guzman had repeatedly touched him inappropriately.
Guzman was charged with two counts of indecency with a child and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child.
He pleaded guilty and will spend 35 years behind bars. He is not eligible for parole.
“I'm proud to tell everyone I'm a soccer coach and unfortunately this had to happen in our community. But we're not going to stop helping kids,” Pena said.
www.myfoxdfw.com/story/26534426/whatever-happened-to-soccer-coach-arrested
FOX 4's Heather Hays has an update on a Garland soccer coach who betrayed the trust of parents and children by sexually assaulting at least two boys.
There's usually a special bond between players and a coach. But that was destroyed for some by Bernardo Mondragon Guzman. In fact, some people believe he devastated an entire community.
“We grow really attached to our players and it's sad to think of the repercussions for the rest of the lives,” said Javier Pena, a coach with the Garland Soccer Association, said in 2012
Guzman coached in the league for five years. He was arrested in 2012 when Garland police said he sexually assaulted at least two boys. They suspected there were more victims.
“If a child has played or been coached by this coach and has ever been alone with this coach, there is a good chance that there's been a sexual assault or sexual contact,” said Joe Harn with the Garland Police Department.
Police said the encounters happened inside Guzman's pickup in his driveway or in his Garland home.
A 10-year-old player came forward in early September 2012 and that led to Guzman's arrest.
“The community has been impacted severely,” Connie Kaiwi with the League of United Latino Citizens said in 2012.
It was hard for police to get possible victims to speak, so local Latino groups joined the fight.
“We are all victims, the families as well as the children are victims and we want them to feel safe and comfortable to come forward,” Kaiwi said.
Another boy about the same age as the first victim also came forward claiming Guzman had repeatedly touched him inappropriately.
Guzman was charged with two counts of indecency with a child and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child.
He pleaded guilty and will spend 35 years behind bars. He is not eligible for parole.
“I'm proud to tell everyone I'm a soccer coach and unfortunately this had to happen in our community. But we're not going to stop helping kids,” Pena said.
www.myfoxdfw.com/story/26534426/whatever-happened-to-soccer-coach-arrested
