Donna soccer coach charged in sexual assault of student

EDINBURG — Donna High School soccer coach Edgar Flores was arrested Wednesday, after a team member accused him of sexual assault, authorities said.

Authorities said Flores, 31, is accused of giving a male student beer, waiting for him to pass out and then assaulting him last month at a car wash near the intersection of Business 83 and Val Verde Road.

The car wash is a hangout for many of the Donna High School soccer players.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said authorities learned of the allegation two weeks later, when the student’s girlfriend reported it to school officials.

“We have reason to believe that this is an isolated incident,” he said.

“We do not believe (the coach) had a relationship with the victim.”

Several witnesses reported seeing Flores and the teen drinking at the car wash the night of Nov. 17, according to the probable cause affidavit in the case.

Others saw them there the next morning, according to the affidavit.

However, no one claimed to have witnessed the incident, Treviño said.

Deputies interviewed all other team members and none implicated Flores in any other inappropriate actions, authorities said.

“We have seen in the past that other victims come forward after an arrest is made,” Treviño said. “But so far, this has not happened here.”

During an arraignment hearing Wednesday, the coach was charged with sexual assault and an improper relationship with a student.

Both he and his lawyer, Eloy I. Hernandez, declined comment.

Flores was suspended with pay when officials learned of the allegations last week, said interim Superintendent Roberto F. Loredo.

A final decision on his employment status will be made after the case is resolved.

“These are very serious charges,” Loredo said. “This is something the district won’t tolerate.”

Flores, who has worked for the district for four years, took over the varsity soccer team’s top coaching job this season.

He also teaches Spanish at the high school, Loredo said.

Flores remained in the Hidalgo County jail Wednesday evening in lieu of a $150,000 cash surety bond.

If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.