A Los Angeles area high school soccer coach has been arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a minor following an investigation by the Westminster Police Department.

According to a report by KTLA, the Westminster Police Department identified the suspect as Michael Avila, 20, of Norwalk. In mid-July, police began investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred near the 13500 block of Edwards Street in Westminster. Following the investigation, Avila — who coaches soccer at a Los Angeles area high school — was identified as the suspect. He was located and arrested in Norwalk on July 28 and booked into Orange County Jail.

Investigators have asked anyone who may be a victim of Avila or who has information on the case to contact Detective Bruzzi at 714-548-3781, or the Westminster Police Watch Commander at 714-548-3767. The corresponding school district has been contacted and is working in collaboration with the Westminster Police Department, according to officials.

At Easton & Easton, we represent survivors of sexual abuse in school and youth sports settings throughout Southern California. Cases like this one are a reminder of how the coach-athlete relationship, built on trust and access, can be exploited — and of why both criminal accountability and civil legal options exist for survivors.

Key Takeaways

  • Michael Avila, 20, of Norwalk, was arrested on July 28 and booked into Orange County Jail for the alleged sexual assault of a minor.
  • Avila works as a soccer coach at a Los Angeles area high school. The corresponding school district has been contacted and is cooperating with law enforcement.
  • The Westminster Police Department initiated the investigation in mid-July following a report of sexual assault near the 13500 block of Edwards Street in Westminster.
  • Anyone who may be a victim or has information on the case is asked to contact Detective Bruzzi at 714-548-3781, or the Westminster Police Watch Commander at 714-548-3767.
  • Survivors of sexual abuse by a coach or school employee may have civil legal options independent of the criminal investigation, including potential claims against the school or district.

What Happened: The Arrest of Michael Avila

Westminster police opened the investigation in mid-July after receiving a report of a sexual assault. Investigators identified Avila — a soccer coach at a Los Angeles area high school — as the suspect and located him in Norwalk on July 28. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into Orange County Jail on charges related to the alleged assault of a minor.

Officials confirmed that the school district where Avila coaches has been contacted and is working in collaboration with the Westminster Police Department as the investigation continues. No further details about the specific school or the victim have been made public.

Anyone with information or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to reach out to law enforcement directly. Detective Bruzzi can be reached at 714-548-3781. The Westminster Police Watch Commander is available at 714-548-3767 for those who prefer to report through that channel.

The Coach-Athlete Relationship and Why It Creates Risk

The relationship between a coach and a young athlete is one of the most trust-intensive dynamics that exists outside of a family setting. Coaches control playing time, team standing, and access to the sport itself. For young athletes who have invested years in developing their skills, that power is real and consequential.

Sexual abuse within coaching relationships frequently involves grooming — a gradual process in which an abuser builds emotional closeness, tests boundaries, and creates a dynamic of secrecy before the abuse begins. In youth sports settings, private training sessions, travel, and the normalization of physical contact can all be used to create the conditions for abuse. The Darkness to Light organization reports that adults who sexually abuse children in institutional settings specifically select roles that provide unsupervised, trusted access to minors.

Coaches who work in school-based programs are mandated reporters under California Penal Code Section 11165.7 — they are legally required to report known or reasonably suspected child abuse to law enforcement or a child protective agency. When coaches, administrators, or other school employees fail in that obligation, the institution may carry legal exposure that extends beyond the individual who committed the harm.

What the School District’s Involvement Means

Officials confirmed that the school district has been contacted and is cooperating with law enforcement. That cooperation is legally required — school districts have obligations under California law to respond to reports of employee misconduct and to ensure the safety of students.

What that cooperation looks like in practice, however, matters. Civil attorneys who handle school sexual abuse cases look closely at what a district knew or should have known before an incident occurs. Questions worth asking include: Was Avila’s background adequately screened before he was placed in a coaching role? Were there prior complaints or warning signs? Did the district have supervision protocols in place for one-on-one contact between coaches and student athletes?

A district’s cooperation with an active criminal investigation is the minimum required by law. It does not by itself answer questions about whether the institution’s hiring, supervision, or response practices met the standard of care California law requires of organizations entrusted with minors.

California Law and Civil Claims for School Sports Abuse

A criminal investigation addresses the conduct of the individual alleged to have committed the abuse. Civil law addresses a broader set of questions — including whether the institution that employed the coach bears its own responsibility for what occurred.

Under California law, school districts can face civil liability for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and failure to report when they knew or should have known that an employee posed a risk to students. California’s Assembly Bill 218 (AB 218), enacted in 2020, removed the civil statute of limitations for many childhood sexual abuse claims and created a three-year revival window for previously expired claims. The law also allows courts to award up to three times the compensatory damages when a covered entity — such as a school district — engaged in concealment or cover-up of known abuse.

Civil and criminal cases are entirely separate proceedings. A civil claim can move forward regardless of how the criminal case resolves, and a civil standard of proof — a preponderance of the evidence — is significantly lower than the criminal standard.

What Survivors and Witnesses Can Do

Contact law enforcement first. If you have information about this investigation or believe you may have been a victim of Michael Avila, contact the Westminster Police Department directly. Detective Bruzzi is available at 714-548-3781. The Westminster Police Watch Commander can be reached at 714-548-3767. You may also contact the Westminster Police Department through their non-emergency line.

Seek support. The RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) and can connect survivors with confidential support and local resources. The Orange County Rape Crisis Center provides free, confidential support for survivors throughout the region.

Document what you remember. Whether or not you plan to pursue any legal action, writing down what you know — dates, locations, names of coaches or staff who were present, and any communications you may have saved — preserves information that can support both law enforcement investigations and any future civil proceedings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a civil claim be filed while the criminal investigation is still ongoing?
Yes. Civil and criminal cases are independent of each other. A civil attorney can assess whether a civil claim exists and begin the process of gathering evidence even before the criminal case reaches a conclusion. The two proceedings do not interfere with each other.

Can the school district be held liable for a coach’s alleged abuse?
Potentially, yes — depending on what the district knew or should have known before and during Avila’s employment, what screening it conducted, and whether it had adequate supervision protocols in place. A civil attorney can investigate these questions, including through the discovery process if litigation is filed.

What is California’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse civil claims?
AB 218 eliminated the civil statute of limitations for many childhood sexual abuse claims that had not already expired. Even if significant time has passed since an incident occurred, a survivor’s civil options may still be open. An attorney can confirm the specific deadlines that apply based on the circumstances of each case.

Does the victim need to be identified publicly to pursue a civil claim?
No. California courts regularly allow sexual abuse survivors to proceed under a pseudonym in civil litigation, particularly in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. A civil attorney can seek a protective order early in the process to limit public disclosure of the survivor’s identity.

Easton & Easton’s Commitment to Survivors of School Sports Sexual Abuse

At Easton & Easton, we are deeply committed to supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse in cases involving school athletic programs, coaches, and the institutions that place them in contact with young athletes. We understand that cases like this one involve a fundamental betrayal of the trust that students and families place in the adults responsible for their care and development.

Our approach combines compassionate, trauma-informed advocacy with thorough investigation of the institutional practices and failures that allow abuse to occur. We recognize that a civil claim is only one part of a survivor’s longer journey, and we work to connect clients with therapeutic professionals, victim-support services, and community resources throughout and beyond the legal process.

Attorney Saul Wolf has extensive experience handling civil claims related to youth sports sexual abuse and school sexual abuse across a wide range of settings, including high school athletic programs, school districts, and coaching relationships throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, and across California.

Easton & Easton remains dedicated to helping survivors seek accountability and justice while advocating for stronger institutional responsibility within the schools and organizations that serve children throughout Southern California.