Portland Youth Soccer Coach Sentenced To 20 Years For Sex Crimes

PORTLAND, OR – A former youth soccer coach was told Friday that he would spend the next 20 years in prison for sex crimes. Luis Trybom had pleaded no contest to felony sex crimes in July.

Trybom was the director of the Portland Soccer Academy when he was arrested in June 2017 and accused of abusing at least seven woman – none of whom were involved in the academy.

At his sentencing hearing, several of his victims described for the courtt how they had been affected by Trybom. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.

"Today I am in an operating room delivering anesthesia to patients having open heart surgery in North Carolina," wrote one woman who unable to appear in person. "Out of the sadness, fear, depression, and anxiety, I grew stronger in my ability to protect myself and hopefully protect others against Mr. Trybom.

"I was taking the control back. No one could make me feel a certain way without my consent, even though other actions by Mr. Trybom had been without just that: consent. I am stronger today as a result of what happened to me, despite feeling weak, powerless, and in danger in the moment."

One woman who appeared in court said that Trybom – who has been a registered sex offender since 1997 – is "emotionally abusive and the epitome of a con artist. The result of his actions continue to be a major burden on me and I've accepted the necessary actions to take in order to heal.

"The humiliation and insignificance I’ve felt over the years hopefully ends today because I'm finally allowed to be heard."

A third woman told the court that she struggles every day thinking about what happened to her.

"My ability to focus on the things that are important to me such as school and work has been a constant battle since this happened," she said.."I know down the road, eventually, I will grow and learn.

"I'll be able to keep other people from falling into the same footsteps I stumbled into."

Two of Trybom's victims were minors at the time of the incidents. Police had said that he would take victims of the women, including those who were underage. He had originally been charged with 35 counts – including child sexual abuse and rape and online sexual corruption of a child – stemming from two separate cases.

The investigation had started in December, 2016, when an underage female told a school employee of an incident involving Trybom.

After the hearing, Deputy District Attorney BJ Park, who prosecuted the case, praised the courage of the survivors.

"We must commend the survivors in this case for coming forward and telling their stories," he said. "Their courage to speak up shows their strength and reliance."

Photo via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.