Crime & Safety
Coach Accused Of Soliciting Sex Acts From Players: WPD
The Watsonville man is an assistant coach for an independent soccer league, according to police.
WATSONVILLE, CA — An assistant soccer coach suspected of soliciting sexual acts from underage players and sending them explicit photos was arrested Friday afternoon in Watsonville, police said. Alexis Ponce-Mendoza, 18, was taken into custody at his Watsonville home and booked into Santa Cruz County Jail.
Authorities started investigating Ponce-Mendoza after a 15-year-old Pajaro Valley High School student told a counselor about explicit social media photos sent to her by her soccer coach, officials said. The photos were also allegedly sent to at least one other teen.
Ponce-Mendoza is an assistant coach for an independent soccer league and not affiliated with the school. While detectives were interviewing the victims about the photos, they discovered the suspect was also allegedly soliciting sex acts from the underage girls.
Find out what's happening in Watsonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police did not release information about when the incidents took place. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Naim Figueroa at (831)768-3355.
By Bay City News
Find out what's happening in Watsonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Photo courtesy Renee Schiavone/ Patch
