Former lifeguard sentenced to 13 years for child sex abuse

Alvarez damaged community, judge says

Carlos Sorto Alvarez, 31, a former La Plata lifeguard, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of soliciting child pornography, Charles County State’s Attorney Tony Covington (D) announced Thursday.

On Sept. 27, prior to sentencing Alvarez, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West said, “If you have children and send them to public places and abuse happens, the community as a whole is let down. The community as a whole is damaged.”

In December 2017, officers met with the victim, who was younger than the age of 18, after being contacted by the Department of Social Services. The victim, who was 14 at the time, met Alvarez at a community pool where he was a lifeguard. The two participated in various recreational activities together over the course of two years.

Alvarez would purchase the victim items such as clothing, food and telephones. Once the victim entered high school, Alvarez began requesting inappropriate favors from the victim including having the victim perform sexual acts in front of him, as well as having the victim send naked photos and videos of a sexual nature. Alvarez and the victim did perform sexual acts with each other on several occasions.

Investigation later revealed Alvarez requested a friend of the victim, another minor, to send sexual photos and videos as well.

Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the judge, “This was not an isolated incident. He was in a position of trust. Parents entrusted their kids to the community pool to have fun, not for a lifeguard to be taking advantage and grooming them.”

Alvarez pleaded guilty to the charges on May 21 in front of West.