TOWSON — A longtime Baltimore County youth soccer coach is jailed after being charged with a string of sexual offenses involving two teenage players, according to court documents and law enforcement filings.
Charges allege months of grooming and online contact
Prosecutors have filed multiple counts against Roberto Garcia, 30, including four counts of sexual solicitation of a minor, three counts of indecent exposure to a minor, two counts of displaying obscene material to a minor and one count of continuously sexually abusing a minor. The charges allege that the abuse continued for more than 10 months and involved two teenage victims.
Investigators say Garcia sometimes used Snapchat to communicate with the boys and allegedly offered them between $100 and $500 to expose themselves, according to the charging documents. Authorities also reported that some alleged incidents occurred outside Maryland.
- Charges filed: sexual solicitation, indecent exposure, displaying obscene material, continuous sexual abuse
- Alleged period of misconduct: more than 10 months
- Communication method cited: Snapchat
Defense emphasizes presumption of innocence
"Obviously these are serious charges, but he's presumed innocent and we look forward to the chance to fight them when we get to court,"
Defense attorney Tom Maronick told reporters Garcia is a "respected soccer coach" and a mentor to many families in the community. He said the allegations are unproven and stressed Garcia's right to a court hearing. Maronick also argued for limits on how the state can pursue allegations tied to conduct that allegedly occurred outside Maryland.
Court action and detention
A Baltimore County judge denied bail, and Garcia remains held at the Baltimore County Detention Center. His next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 11, according to court records.
| Charge | Count |
|---|---|
| Sexual solicitation of a minor | 4 |
| Indecent exposure to a minor | 3 |
| Displaying obscene material to a minor | 2 |
| Continuously sexually abusing a minor | 1 |
One alleged victim told police Garcia purchased items for him, including a plane ticket, clothing, video games and food, according to the charging documents. The filings also include an alleged statement by Garcia in January in which he reportedly told a victim he "was in trouble for grooming kids" and urged them not to tell anyone he was with them, saying, "You don't know me for the next few months."
Local consequences and community response
The arrest of a coach who has been described publicly as a mentor has raised concern among parents and community members involved with youth sports programs in Baltimore County. Youth sports rely heavily on volunteer coaches and trust between families and program leaders. Formal complaints and criminal charges involving a coach can prompt leagues and school systems to re-examine background-screening policies, supervision practices and training for adults who work with minors.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims. Prosecutors will need to establish jurisdictional issues related to alleged conduct that may have occurred outside Maryland, a point Maronick emphasized when discussing the case in court. The attorney reiterated that his client is presumed innocent and entitled to challenge the allegations at trial.
The charging documents are part of an active investigation. County law enforcement and prosecutors have not released further details beyond what is included in the court filings.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Baltimore County Police Department or the State's Attorney's Office.
