Santa Clara County track coach suspected of child sex abuse arrested

Reyes-Palacios was arrested on suspicion of human sex trafficking of a minor, contacting a minor with intent to commit certain felonies and lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14.

WATSONVILLE — Investigators arrested a South County track and field coach Tuesday on suspicion of child sexual abuse allegations.

The allegations stem from when Humberto Reyes-Palacios, 24, of Watsonville, worked as a volunteer coach at Rolling Hills Middle School in 2022, where he is alleged to have abused a boy under the age of 13. The abuse was reported to police earlier this month, according to a Watsonville Police Department social media post

After searching Reyes-Palacios’ Misty Glade Lane home, detectives took him into custody early Tuesday in Capitola, according to the post.

Reyes-Palacios was arrested on suspicion of human sex trafficking of a minor, contacting a minor with intent to commit certain felonies and lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to the department’s post.

Watsonville police detectives are investigating the existence of potential additional victims involving Reyes-Palacios, who most recently has volunteered as the Pajaro Valley High School assistant track and field coach.

Police are asking anyone with additional information on this case to call police detective Marcos Rios at 831-889-8413.