A youth soccer coach convicted of molesting six boys over a one-year period has been sentenced to serve 225 years to life in prison.44-year-old Jose Duarte was convicted in February on 20 counts of child molestation and five counts of sending harmful material, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Duarte was apprehended June 27, 2011, following an investigation into accusations against the coach.
At the time, Duarte coached a youth team called USA that practiced and played at various fields in Los Angeles and Glendale. It was then a 13-year-old victim came forward and said he had been sexually assaulted by his soccer coach. Los Angeles Police officers launched an investigation that yielded additional victims who said their coach, Duarte, had abused them.
According to information revealed during his trial, the crimes took place mainly at Duarte's L.A. home. Further, Duarte showed pornography to his victims before he molested them. The victims were between the ages of 11 and 14 at the time of their abuse.
A jury returned a guilty verdict after less than a day of deliberation in February.
Following sentencing today, Deputy District Attorney Rachel Greene of the Sex Crimes Division said four of Jose Duarte’s victims read statements before Judge Henry Hall pronounced the sentence.
Previously: L.A. Area Soccer Coach Charged With 15 Felony Counts Of Child Molestation
