Local youth organizations react to soccer coach’s child molestation arrest

Stephen Morgan, 31, made his first court appearance in Indio Wednesday charged with sexually abusing a child under the age of 14.

Prior to his arrest, Morgan was a coach with U.K. International Soccer Camps (UKISC), coaching children throughout Riverside County for about two years.

Read: Soccer coach pleads not guilty to lewd acts on a child under the age of 14

For Josie Huerta, a Valley youth soccer coach, she said she was surprised to hear about the charges filed against Morgan.

After spending seven seasons on the sidelines, she said her league has a rigorous process for anyone wanting to be involved.

“If they pass the background checks, then they can move forward on the next steps,” Huerta said. “Then after that, they have to do child safe-haven (and) awareness, where they can assist a child if there’s an injury. Then after that, it’s accreditation for them to be able to teach and coach our young athletes.”

Huerta also said in her time coaching locally, for the most part in her league, there are at least two coaches per team.

Other organizations like the Boy Scouts of America have precautions put in place, such as two adult leaders around scouts at all times, therefore eliminating one-on-one situations.

“At any given time, no youth should be one-on-one with an adult, other than their own parent,” Ricci Dula with the California Inland Empire Council Boy Scouts of America said. “So, in that case, if they’re doing a scouting activity, or even in travel, there needs to be another adult that needs to be with them other than their own parent.”

Both Huerta and Dula said their message to make sure all kids under their watch are protected.

“This is all a community movement that we’re involved,” Huerta said. “We’re growing together. Just like they always say, it takes a village.”

UKISC attorney Alicia Dearn released this statement to KESQ and CBS Local 2 Thursday:

“UKISC has policies on how camps are staffed. Camps are not staffed by a single coach left alone with the children. This is for the happiness and safety of all the children. UKISC also has policies that govern coach professionalism. Each coach signs their agreement to these policies. They are trained on UKISC’s expectations on how they are to behave. Coaches are also scheduled and conduct regular check ins with management and directors both on and off site. The camps are designed so that coaches have little opportunity to interact with the children outside of a public group setting or outside the presence of the child’s parents or guardians. Coaches should never be alone with a child away from the camps. UKISC also runs comprehensive background checks on coaches before they are hired. UKISC has no reason to believe that there are any other allegations or victims outside of this isolated event. No other children were or are at risk.”

Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies said if anyone has information or concerns to contact the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at (760) 863-8990 or your local law enforcement.