Former Modesto youth soccer coach pleads no contest to child porn charges
A former Modesto Youth Soccer Association and Ajax United youth soccer coach whose bail was raised to $1 million amid expanding child pornography charges has pleaded no contest to a so-called strike offense. He was sentenced to serve nearly six years in state prison.
Matthew Ryan Paez, 33, pleaded Friday to attempting to commit a lewd act on a child under 14, along with additional felony counts stemming from an online investigation that began with a tip to Turlock police.
The plea resolves a case that grew from five felony counts at the time of his arrest to 14 charges, including allegations that Paez possessed more than 600 illicit images of children and engaged in explicit online communications with minors.
Under the agreement, Paez was sentenced to five years and eight months in state prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa said prosecutors amended the complaint during negotiations to include the charge of attempted lewd act — a serious and violent felony commonly known as a strike offense.
“The trade-off was that I agreed to resolve the case,” Sousa said outside the courtroom. “However, I believed it was appropriate given the conduct and the number of children involved.”
Prosecutors said forensic analysis recovered more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material. Sousa told the court that at least 10 of those images involved prepubescent children under the age of 12.
Sousa previously told the court that investigators uncovered lengthy conversations between Paez and underage girls on Snapchat, some of whom identified themselves as young as 13. Authorities also alleged that Paez distributed explicit material through the Kik messaging app and contacted multiple minors online with the intent to commit sex offenses.
Investigators seized multiple electronic devices from Paez’s Turlock home. Prosecutors have said one device had been damaged and concealed, but forensic tools allowed authorities to recover evidence.
Sousa said there was no evidence Paez physically met with a child. However, asking a minor to engage in sexual conduct constitutes an attempted lewd act under California law.
Paez appeared in court wearing an orange-and-white striped Stanislaus County jail jumpsuit. Early in the hearing, a bailiff handed him a tissue as he wiped tears from his face.
Only a handful of spectators were present. As the charges were outlined, several in the gallery exchanged quiet looks.
In addition to prison time, Paez will serve three years of parole upon release, provide a DNA sample and is prohibited from owning firearms for life.
Ajax United previously said Paez had passed required background checks prior to his employment. Authorities have said they found no evidence that local Ajax players were victimized in his case.
Paez’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
