Former Modesto youth soccer coach charged with child exploitation is sentenced
A former Modesto youth soccer coach was sentenced Wednesday to nearly six years in state prison after pleading no contest to charges related to child exploitation, according to court records.
Matthew Ryan Paez was sentenced by Judge Carrie M. Stephens in Stanislaus County Superior Court to five years and eight months in prison.
Paez previously pleaded no contest to multiple felony charges, including possession of child sexual abuse material and attempting to commit a lewd act with a minor.
As part of the sentence, Paez was awarded 179 days of custody credit. He also was ordered to pay fines and fees totaling more than $1,300, according to court records.
Paez will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.
Following sentencing, he was remanded into custody and is expected to be transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The case has raised questions about oversight in youth sports organizations, where coaches often work closely with minors.
“Even when someone passes background checks and appears to fit well within a coaching environment, safeguards and structure still matter,” said Marcus Raposas, executive director of Modesto Youth Soccer Association’s Ajax United.
Raposas said the organization relies on SafeSport training and emphasizes clear boundaries between coaches and players, including limiting interactions to structured team settings.
“Outside of our soccer environment, we don’t control or have visibility into an individual’s personal life or interactions,” he said. “Situations like this reinforce the importance of staying vigilant.”
Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa declined to comment beyond the court proceedings. Defense attorney Joseph McPeak did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
