‘Every parent’s worst nightmare’: Soccer coach sentenced for kidnapping, lewdness with child

A judge ordered a 10- to 25-year prison sentence Wednesday for a former Las Vegas youth soccer coach who admitted to kidnapping and lewdness with a child.

“Your behavior is concerning to this court because I agree with the state: what happened in this case is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said District Judge Danielle Pieper.

In addition to the prison time, Pieper ordered Sergio Reyes Rojas, 45, to register as a sex offender.

The former director of the Las Vegas Diversity DC soccer club was arrested Dec. 10.

He pleaded guilty in April to a count of lewdness with a child under 16 and a count of second-degree kidnapping.

Defense attorney Michael Horvath said after court that Reyes Rojas is undocumented and is expected to be deported after he is released from prison.

The Metropolitan Police Department said Reyes Rojas offered a 14-year-old girl a ride as she walked home in the early hours of Nov. 23 and sexually assaulted her.

DNA evidence from a sexual assault kit showed a connection to Reyes Rojas, according to a police report.

The sentence Pieper ordered was the maximum possible, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Allmon.

“He’s out looking for young teenage girls who are vulnerable to pick up to sexually assault,” he said. “He is every parent’s worst nightmare in this case.”

Allmon said the evidence against Reyes Rojas was “overwhelming” and that the victim was sexually assaulted. He argued that the defendant had already benefited from accepting responsibility because the possible prison time he faced had been reduced by the plea deal.

Reyes Rojas had previously faced counts of sexual assault with a child under 16, before pleading to the lesser charges.

“Mr. Rojas took responsibility for all of this,” Horvath told the judge. “He didn’t know her age but he understands what the law is.”

The prosecutor said Reyes Rojas was seen on video buying the victim alcohol at a gas station. The victim reported telling Reyes Rojas she was 14, but the defendant said she told him she was 19, according to Allmon.

Horvath said his client offered her a ride. The victim specified the alcohol she wanted and did not get out of the car when she was left alone in it, according to the attorney. Reyes Rojas’ position is the victim said she was 19, he said.

“It’s odd that you would ask somebody their age when you’re going to give them a ride,” Pieper said.

The judge said the victim did not look like a 19-year-old in a photo she viewed.

Police said Reyes Rojas gave the victim $140. Allmon said $100 of it was counterfeit.

“This was a troubled child the defendant found on the street in the middle of the night,” Allmon said.

The prosecutor said Reyes Rojas also tried to lure a 15-year-old girl, who was sitting at a bus stop, in 2024, by offering her marijuana to get into his car, but that the girl evaded him.

The prior case was submitted to prosecutors, who did not pursue it, he said, adding that with that case standing alone, prosecutors may have had difficulty proving intent.

The victim did not speak at the sentencing hearing.

Reyes Rojas said in a tearful statement that he prays for the victim to recover and be successful.

“I’m very ashamed of myself,” he said.