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A Livermore youth soccer coach has been found not guilty after being accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl at a summer soccer camp.
An Alameda County jury acquitted Jesse Schlicker, 28, following a four-day trial in Hayward.
Schlicker was arrested while coaching a Livermore soccer camp in 2014 on suspicion of committing a lewd act on a child under 14 years old.
Schlicker’s attorney, Patrick Clancy of the Walnut Creek-based Innocence Legal Team, said Livermore police failed to conduct a full investigation after the accusation. Clancy argued the officer assigned to the case didn’t interview the other children and an adult who may have witnessed the reported incident at the Cabernet Indoor Sports camp.
“This was an extreme injustice to have this case be charged,” Clancy said. “The investigation was nonexistent.”
Teresa Drenick, spokeswoman for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, said California law states the testimony of a single witness, if believed, is enough to convict a sexual assailant.
“Cases involving child victims of sexual assault are among the most difficult cases to prosecute because often times, there is no corroboration to the victim’s account of the crime. By their very nature, these crimes are often committed when no eyewitnesses are present,” she said. “The victim in this case is an incredibly brave young girl who did everything she should have in this situation.”
Clancy said scores of people from Livermore’s soccer community attended the trial as witnesses to state Schlicker was not the type of person who could hurt a child.
The jury deliberated for about an hour and a half before reaching its not guilty verdict, Clancy said.
He is acquitted but in the meantime, based in no facts, you’ve smeared his name all over the area. So much for media integrity.
This is an example of why any coach / teacher needs to keep their arms distance from their students.
And of course never be alone with them. Cannot allow the opportunity to have your name smeared all over the community, but in this case, Jesse Schlicker won’t be put behind bars for something he didn’t do.
…. and the Livermore cops & D.A., what a bunch of lazy, short-cut seeking public servant. If you’re aiming to put somebody behind bars, get off your ass and do your job.
Justice served