San Jose soccer coach sent lewd photos to teen, police say

SAN JOSE – San Jose police on Thursday announced the arrest of a youth soccer coach and professional soccer player on suspicion of sending pictures of his genitals to a 16-year-old girl.

An investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as 26-year-old San Jose resident Hector Benjamin Joya Jimenez, befriended the teen in March, said San Jose police Sgt. Enrique Garcia in a news release. Garcia said Jimenez then used Snapchat to communicate with the teen and “sent her unsolicited pictures of his genitals on several occasions.”

Detectives also learned that Jimenez is a youth coach for Liverpool Football Club International Academy Bay Area and a player for the Oakland Roots Sports Club, Garcia said.

On Wednesday, detectives obtained a warrant and took Jimenez into custody in San Jose. He was booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges of sending harmful matter to a minor, a felony, and annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18, a misdemeanor.

Jimenez has since been released by the Oakland Roots.

“Today, the Oakland Roots were disappointed to learn that midfielder Benji Joya was arrested in San Jose on Wednesday,” the club said in a statement. “Therefore, the club has decided to release him.”

The Liverpool Football Club did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the arrest.

Anyone with information about the incident or others like it can contact San Jose police Detective Jose Montoya at 408-537-1381, or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at svcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.

Check back for updates.