LANCASTER – Prosecutors have added even more victims to the child sex abuse case against longtime Antelope Valley soccer coach Renoir Valenti.
The count is now at 13 alleged victims, including five current or former players, according to published reports.
Valenti’s victims are all males who ranged in age from 5 to 15 when the alleged sexual abuse occurred, investigators said.
The incidents reportedly spanned a decade for one victim, and incidents with other victims occurred as recently as Aug. 6, The Daily News reports.
Valenti was a coach and referee in the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) for more than 16 years. Investigators believe the 50-year-old Quartz Hill resident used his position as a method to meet and befriend children, according to a Sheriff’s Department press release.
Authorities began investigating Valenti last month when the mother of a 9-year-old boy reported that her son had been molested; and during the course of the investigation, two additional boys under the age of 15 were identified as victims in the case, sheriff’s officials said.
Detectives arrested Valenti on August 6 at his residence in the 42900 block of 59th Street West, and he was charged on August 8 with two counts of felony continuous sexual abuse of a child and two counts of annoying or molesting a child.
During a court appearance on Aug. 20, prosecutors said Valenti had been trying to contact his victims. Valenti was served with a protective order barring him from having any contact with his alleged victims – which had increased to six at the time.
More victims have since come forward, and prosecutors filed new charges Thursday.
Valenti is now charged with five felony counts of continuous sexual abuse and eight misdemeanor counts of child molesting, according to court records.
Valenti pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his bail was reportedly increased from $1 million to $2.25 million on Thursday.
Valenti is due in court again on Sept. 20 for a preliminary hearing.
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Butterfly says
I never understand this. Parents and yes I blame not only the a-hole that did this. but as a coach I WILL NOT and I stress this to theyre parents I will not pick up, or drop off your child for pratice or a game. they are your kids they are your responsibility! yes you can talk to them about the does or don’ts when it comes to a sexual predator or child molester. but when it comes down to it no child will know it happening and I speak from experience (of being the child in this situation)its not always the creepy looking guy or the coach that everyone trust. but I will say this,if you the parent opens the door to these sick minded people its also your fault. I hate it when I hear things like this! And then I hear a parent say he was his coach I assumed it was ok to let my child go with him! REALLY Idiot!! this man is a creep and he needs to be locked up and the key thrown away.. dumbass! but really Parents quit your crap stop being lazy pick up and drop off your own child or have a trusted family memeber, big bro, big sister pick them up or drop them off. this is the only way to avoid this kind of crap. PROTECT your child they see you as theyre hero and when this happens to them they have no hero for the rest of they’re lifes! and all you freaking jack asses on here quit your crap unless you’ve been there and had it done to you! you have no f’n clue of what your talking about!!! Peace!!
What? says
I guess this guy doesn’t have to worry about anything. If he makes it out of prison he will have Michelle and Janice to advocate for him.
Michelle Egberts says
@ what… Statistics show that 90 percent of child sex abuse victims know their predators. In terms of what parents and teachers should do, it comes down to educating their kids about “good touch, bad touch” and letting their children know “they should not be in any way fearful of reporting anything that they find suspicious or inappropriate with another adult.”
It’s the predators that are NOT on the “registry” that we as citizens should be worried about.
What? says
fact of the matter, ms. egberts, is that this guy will eventually be paroled and released into the community again and you and Janice will be there on his release date with hugs and a “welcome home” gift basket and will be advocating for him the whole way, just like you are shamelessly doing for the others now.
Look at how many registered sex offenders living in the AV have a tag on their Megan’s law profile that says “…with a minor under 14”.
you dug this hole, Michelle, now lay in it!
lay with the dogs like the dog you are and wake up with fleas! you deserve it!
Tina Marie says
both of those women (use the word loosely) are disgusting pigs who are trying to put the rest of us and our kids in danger just so they can say they have a “cause”! There is a special place in HELL for these bitches!
Gladys says
I think there is a spot for a hateful person like you too. You need some counseling for your anger issues.
Tina Marie says
ive been to hell bitch! I was forced there with a loaded gun to my back! Care to make anymore smart ass remarks now?
Gladys says
Oh Tina, that is terrible. I do hope you had counseling to help deal with those issues. Doesn’t sound like it, cause you are still so angry. I’m thinking maybe you knew the person who did that to you and you either didn’t report it because you didn’t think anyone would believe you or because you didn’t want to make waves in the family or neighborhood. I am sorry about what happened to you. With that said, not everyone who is a registered sex offender has done anything of that magnitude, nor would they. It is wrong to lump people together, charged and convicted of sex crimes or things classified as sex crimes. They are not all equal.
Janice Bellucci says
Thank you for educating the public on this topic. Again, most sexual assaults of children are perpetrated by a family member, teacher, coach, or clergy members. And they occur in private places like homes, not public places like parks. These are two reasons that Lancaster ordinance 981 needs to be stopped.
Concered says
Ace finally got his photo on this website! Ace you never seemed like a Renoir Valenti to me, oh well, guess I was wrong.
Matt K. says
You may not like someone but don’t accuse or insinuate that they are a child molester if they aren’t. That’s wrong!
I don’t care for a lot of the things Ace has said on here either and he gets on my nerves from time to time, but that’s a line I’ll never cross.
Javier says
13 kids and none of them said anything?
How is that even possible?
The news that comes from this valley gets worse everyday and here I am reading about it as if it were some twisted form of entertainment.
I like it when I hear that an armed robber or meth dealer gets busted and taken off the streets but this kind of thing is freak-in awful.
Good grief.
Newman says
Palmdale – 168
Bell Gardens – 36
WHY..! That’s MORE than 4 times as many sex fiend creeps LIVING in Palmdale than in Bell Garrdens.
Imagine THAT..!
teshi says
Javier, look at the Penn State scandal. These men prey on children that come from broken homes, abuse and low income areas. Priests, coaches and Scoutmasters, also focus on these “types” of children. The abuse lasts years, and continues onto more children!! This guy bought video games to lure kids into his home! Watching the news he also bought candy, and treats so these kids would come over, for a child that does not have much this is enticing.Then they shame these poor children into silence, or these children are just too embarrassed to say anything, it is a shame that we do not have more education on this, how to see the signs and encourage children to come forward in questionable situations, or questionable contact. It only takes 1 child to step forward, to stop further children from abuse. Now that that child and his Mother have come forward, many more have too! I hope this guy get life in prison!
sikntired says
Shame and fear, ashamed because maybe it felt good, maybe people will think your gay, maybe even it’s your fault;fear that you did something bad and will be punished ; fear that Coach won’t like you anymore, …just a few reasons victims don ‘t speak up, Javier.Unfortunately nothing new about any of this, it’s been going on forever.
big mike says
Now white people this is a crime to be reckoned with… Not welfare
really says
This guy should be executed if guilty. That being said since big mike wants to use it against the white man. Inform yourself first! Here is the truth of the matter http://robertlindsay.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/myth-whites-are-more-likely-to-be-pedophiles-and-child-molesters/
Fred Gispachio says
Big Rick, doen’t this guy look hispanic to you? Damn, you are as ignorant as the people they write about on here. Am I surprised? Nope.