EspañolRiverside Youth Soccer Coach Jordan Cohen (Full Name: Jordan Russell Cohen) Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing Girls
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (July 20, 2023) – A 29-year-old Riverside youth soccer coach identified as Jordan Cohen pleaded guilty to felony counts of sexually assaulting girls.
Riverside County officials are saying that the plea was entered on Tuesday. Jordan Cohen admitted to five counts of lewd acts on a child and four counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object.
Prosecutors initially objected to the plea, but those objections were overruled by a Riverside County Superior Court judge. Jordan Cohen was sentenced to serve two years, eight months in state prison.
Prior to sentencing, the defendant taught soccer to children in the Orangecrest community. The Riverside Police Department first became aware of claims of sexual abuse in January, 2020.
He was arrested after one girl said she had been sexually abused. A second girl also came forward following that arrest. This guilty plea comes less than two months after Los Angeles soccer coach Ernandes Dasilva was accused of sexually abusing minors.
Liability For Riverside County Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse by athletic coaches is unfortunately quite common. According to a new report by the Guardian, “in some cases, coaches and instructors have exploited children’s vulnerabilities and the physical contact sport enables in order to groom and abuse them.” Coaches are often required to physically touch student-athletes during physical maneuvers. About a fifth of educators accused of sexual abuse were coaches. Part of the problem is that coaches often have access to children when they are isolated from other adults. There are a number of steps that schools should take to prevent coaches from sexually abusing students.
- Students should be properly monitored during all school activities including extra-curricular activities.
- Coaches and teachers should be thoroughly vetted.
- All suspicious behavior among coaches and teachers should be reported.
- Children should be taught to understand that no one is allowed to violate their personal boundaries.
Pursuant to California Penal Code 288, it is a crime for a person to commit any lewd or lascivious act on a child under 16 years of age. This includes touching a child’s body for sexual purposes. It is not necessary for the touching to be on bare skin. Sadly, though, coaches and even medical doctors will use their professions as a guise to touch kids inappropriately. As outlined in California Penal Code 289, any person who commits an act of sexual penetration with a foreign object when it is accomplished by force, violence, duress, menace or fear shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison. It is also a crime for a teacher or other mandated reporter to fail to report any reasonably suspected instances of child sexual abuse.
If a soccer coach sexually abuses a child, the school that employed them could potentially be liable for the abuse. Schools have a legal obligation to properly supervise students in order to protect them from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. Consider, for example, Taylor v. Oakland Scavenger Co., 17 Cal. 2d 594 [110 P.2d 1044], “It is the duty of the school authorities to supervise at all times the conduct of the children on the school grounds and to enforce those rules and regulations necessary to their protection.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any instance of child sexual abuse.
- A police report should be created.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records related to the abuse should be preserved.
- An experienced child sexual abuse attorney should be consulted.
Sexual abuse is one of the most harmful and destructive things that most people will ever go through. It is particularly hard for children who are often left with long-term physical injuries and psychological trauma. It is important for abuse victims to understand that they do have rights. The family of any child that is sexually abused by a sports coach may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A child sexual abuse attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Riverside County Child Sexual Abuse Claims
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been harmed by the actions of Jordan Cohen. It is a great relief that the defendant will at least be temporarily off the streets and unable to further harm children. Steps need to be taken to prevent similar instances of abuse.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused by a teacher or coach in Riverside County? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of experienced child sexual abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that abuse victims get the support and justice that they deserve. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of help we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
