Antelope Valley Soccer Coach Accused of Child Sexual Abuse

A 16-year youth soccer coach has been charged with child sexual abuse, and authorities are seeking additional alleged victims

Detectives are looking for potential additional victims of an Antelope Valley soccer coach who is accused of sexually abusing young boys.

Renoir Valenti, 50, was charged last week with two felony counts of continuous sexual abuse against a child and two counts of annoying or molesting a child.

A longtime coach and referee of American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) teams in the Antelope Valley, Valenti was arrested after a mother in July alleged that her 9-year-old son had been molested by him, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators afterward found two boys under age 15, both soccer players, who had allegedly been molested by Valenti, who lives in Lancaster.

The alleged molestation of the 9-year-old was not related to Renoir's being a coach, according to the release. But it stated that investigators "believe that the suspect used his position as a soccer coach as a method to meet and befriend children."

Valenti's bail was set at $1 million. He is due in Antelope Valley Superior Court on Monday.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Brian Hudson, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273 or SpecialVictims@lasd.org. To remain anonymous, call 800-222-TIPS (8477).

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