High school softball coach accused of sexual relations with student-athlete

By Jackie Valley

Published Thursday, May 31, 2012 | 1:47 p.m.

Updated Thursday, May 31, 2012 | 6:01 p.m.

A Silverado High School softball coach arrested Thursday is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a player on the team, officials said.

Clark County School District Police arrested 43-year-old Albert S. Hernandez off campus without incident, Sgt. Darnell Couthen said. Hernandez was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on two felony counts of sex between a school employee and student, three felony counts of distributing child pornography and one felony count of production of child pornography.

The investigation began April 23 after the softball player’s father contacted police about what he suspected was an inappropriate relationship between his daughter and Hernandez, Couthen said.

During the investigation police say they found numerous inappropriate and graphic texts and photos on the victim’s phone between her and Hernandez that occurred as early as January.

The student's mother told police Hernandez acted as a mentor and father figure to her daughter, and that her daughter claimed she and the coach maintained a player-coach relationship.

Hernandez also served as a local youth softball coach, Couthen said. At this point, Couthen said investigators had “no reason to believe” other victims existed, but authorities were not ruling out the possibility.

School district spokeswoman Amanda Fulkerson said Hernandez had been a softball coach at Silverado since 2009. He became head coach this season. The school district has terminated without pay his employment, which was temporary based on the length of each season, Fulkerson said.

Silverado’s softball season ended earlier this spring, Fulkerson said.

Hernandez is being held without bail at the detention center, according to jail records. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday.

School police are asking anyone with information, including other possible victims, to contact detectives at 702-799-7830 extension 5262. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

Hernandez is the third School District employee to be arrested for sex-related crimes in the past 45 days. In late April, Metro Police arrested 35-year-old Timothy D. Lawson, a teacher and assistant wrestling coach at Cimarron-Memorial High School, in connection with reports of public masturbation. On May 22, Sunrise-Memorial High School ROTC adviser Douglas Young, 49, was arrested by Metro Police on a felony count of sexual misconduct with a student.

Separately, a Las Vegas youth soccer coach – not affiliated with the School District – Marvin Juarez, 35, was arrested Sunday on four counts of sexual assault with a victim under 14, one count of unlawful contact with a child and 11 counts of lewdness with a minor under 14, according to an arrest report released Tuesday.