Watsonville coach arrested for soliciting sexual acts and sending explicit photos

A Watsonville assistant soccer coach has been arrested for soliciting sexual acts from underage players and sending them explicit photos.

A 15-year-old student at Pajaro Valley High School said her soccer coach, 18-year-old Alexis Ponce-Mendoza, had sent her and at least one other teenage girl an explicit photo through social media.

Ponce-Mendoza is not a coach at the school. He works for another soccer league.

During an interview, detectives found out that he was also soliciting sexual acts from the girls.

Ponce-Mendoza was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail for 288.2 PC and 288.3 PC, contacting a minor to commit a felony and sending the photos to a minor.

If you have any information, call Detective Naim Figueroa at 831-768-3355.