A Riverside County court has imposed a two‑year term of mandatory supervision on Rosario Navarro Gonzalez, a former youth soccer coach who admitted to two felony counts of lewd acts upon a minor.
A Quiet Plea
Prosecutors said the coach, who led girls’ soccer teams in the Palm Desert area, began contacting a 13‑year‑old player through social media platforms during the summer of 2021, eventually persuading the girl to send him nude photographs in exchange for gift cards and cash.
The relationship escalated to a private meeting in the parking lot of a Desert Hot Springs church, where Gonzalez kissed the girl, embraced her and pressed her hand against his groin, actions captured by investigators as clear evidence of sexual misconduct.
In February 2022, the coach tracked the teenager to a shopping mall in Temecula, where he presented her with a $200 gift card, a transaction that was later uncovered by detectives after the girl attempted to delete the incriminating messages.
Following a thorough investigation that began on September 22, 2022, law‑enforcement officials arrested Gonzalez, and the case proceeded to a plea hearing in which he acknowledged the charges without contest.
The court noted that Gonzalez had no prior felony convictions, but emphasized the seriousness of the offenses and the need for protective supervision, sentencing him to the mandated two‑year term.
The sentencing reflects a growing emphasis on holding authority figures accountable when they exploit vulnerable minors, even in community‑based programs such as youth sports.
The victim’s decision to come forward, despite the emotional toll of erasing digital evidence, underscores the challenges faced by young people navigating online predators.