Youth Soccer Coach Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexual Child Abuse

Emanuele “Manny” Fabrizio, a former PayPal engineer and coach for the West Valley Youth Soccer League was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old victim, officials said.

Fabrizio, a Sunnyvale resident, was arrested at his apartment March 21 and charged with . Through a plea bargain he was convicted of one felony count of continuous sexual abuse of a child and one count of lewd and lascivious acts on a child under age 14.

Fabrizio, 36, was a trusted coach with the youth league. A tip from the victim’s father led to the Italian native’s arrest - who has a record of a 2007 conviction for domestic abuse - prior to his coaching term with the youth league.

“Emanuele Fabrizio should never have been allowed to coach this victim or anyone else. Public records show a past conviction for domestic abuse and disturbing levels of uncontrolled arrogance and narcissism," said Kelly Raftery, the victim’s attorney in a statement.

“His pathological propensity to put his own emotions and perceived needs and desires first and foremost while endangering the safety of children and women made him a tragically inappropriate choice to coach girls’ soccer—or any other juvenile activity. What happened here is every parent’s worst nightmare.”

The sexual abuse began in June 2011 when the victim was 12 years old.

“Childhood sexual abuse is an evil of a very damaging nature. It affects the victim terribly, but also harms the entire family. Cases of sexual abuse are always horrific. But cases like this one where the abuse was perpetrated by a trusted coach in a community-based sports program are especially upsetting. Coaches, teachers and other adults in a position of authority are people we respect, and we count on them to take good care of our children and enhance their lives—not destroy them,” Raftery said.

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