Coach Convicted

I apologize for sounding like a broken record but I won't stop saying this as long as it keeps happening:

PARENTS, DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN HANG OUT WITH ANY ADULT UNLESS YOU TRUST THAT PERSON 100% WITH YOUR CHILD'S LIFE AND WELL BEING.  

Coaches, teachers, clergy, doctors --- it doesn't matter.  If you don't know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person is safe, why risk your child being molested, or worse?  

I agree, its horrible to have to live with our child's safety a constant concern.  It should NOT be this way.  We should NOT have to live in fear.  But sadly, that's the way it has to be if we want to protect our kids.  

Predators choose occupations and situations that allow them to be NEAR CHILDREN and gain the trust of their parents.  Red flags should go off if your child's coach, teacher, etc. shows ANY interest in your child. 

To me, this sad case is the classic example.  When will parents "get it"? I guess I am just cynical or better educated on the topic but this would have made me very suspicious.  How often do we have to read these stories to have it sink in? 

"Baca would "groom" his victims first befriending their parents, dropping by their homes unannounced, giving the boys gifts – including sports cards — and ultimately showing them pornography."

From the OC Register:

Cameron Joseph Baca, 29, of San Clemente, was found guilty of nine counts of lewd acts with a minor, four counts of showing pornography to a minor, one count of attempted lewd act on a child under 14, and possession of child pornography.

Cameron Joseph Baca booking photo

He now faces a potential life term in state prison at his Sept. 17 sentencing by Judge David A. Thompson.

Baca met his victims — two 11-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy — between January 2006 and December 2008 while coaching them on football, lacrosse and basketball teams in San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Dana Point.

Deputy District Attorney Heather Brown told the jury that Baca would "groom" his victims first befriending their parents, dropping by their homes unannounced, giving the boys gifts – including sports cards — and ultimately showing them pornography.

The parents of one boy, who had severed ties with Baca after becoming suspicious of the amount of time Baca was spending with their son, contacted law enforcement in December 2008 after the boy disclosed the alleged molestation, prosecutors said.

Subsequent investigation by the Orange County Sheriff's Department turned up other boys, prosecutors said.

Baca admitted in his testimony that he molested one victim, but denied sexual contact with the others.

But Brown argued that testimony was Baca's attempt to avoid convictions for molesting multiple victims, sentencing enhancements which call for a life sentence.

Brown also argued that Baca's collection of child pornography on his computer (more than 2,000 images and 500 videos) demonstrated a predilection for molesting young boys.