Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
SANTA ANA, CA—A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Huntington Beach man with child exploitation offenses, including the possession, distribution, and production of child pornography, the Justice Department announced today.
Mark Phillip Oster, 61, who served as a referee and a coach in the American Youth Soccer Organization from 2015 through 2021, was named in a four-count indictment filed Wednesday. The indictment charges Oster with two counts of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography.
Oster has been in federal custody since July 30, when FBI agents arrested him pursuant to a criminal complaint that charged him with possession of child pornography.
During this investigation, the FBI uncovered evidence indicating Oster engaged in illegal conduct with minor victims.
Anyone who has information regarding the case against Oster or who may know someone victimized by the defendant is requested to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565 or through the FBI online tip portal. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Oster is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in United States District Court in Santa Ana on September 7.
If he were to be convicted of the four counts in the indictment, Oster would face a statutory maximum sentence of 100 years in federal prison. Additionally, each count production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Beshai of the Santa Ana Branch Office and Trial Attorney Kyle Reynolds of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting this case.