SOMERS, CT — A Massachusetts man who served as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach at Somers High School pleaded guilty Monday to two charges stemming from his sexual abuse of a 15-year-old team member, according to prosecutors.
Justin Perez, 28, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to one count each of risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor, Tolland State's Attorney Craig P. Nowak announced in an Oct. 26 news release. Sentencing is scheduled for January in Superior Court in Rockville.
Perez was a Springfield police officer when he volunteered with the wrestling team in December 2023, prosecutors said. He used team messaging apps to obtain the teenager's personal cellphone number and began sending private messages.
"The texts began as friendly banter but escalated into increasingly sexual comments and offers to 'link up' outside of school," the release said.
Prosecutors said Perez sent sexually explicit photographs and videos to the teenager. He also singled out the teen for individual wrestling sessions, during which he groped the victim and made sexual comments, according to the release.
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On at least one occasion, Perez isolated the teenager in a back stairwell and requested a sex act, which the teen refused, prosecutors said.
The teenager abruptly quit the team, leading the head coach to ask why. During that meeting, another teammate encouraged the victim to disclose what had happened during the previous wrestling season, according to the release.
The head coach immediately contacted Connecticut State Police. Investigators later examined Perez's cellphone and found text messages, photographs and videos consistent with the teenager's account, prosecutors said.
Patch previously reported Perez's April 2025 arrest in a Connecticut State Police arrest roundup.
Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Emily Trudeau prosecuted the case, with assistance from Inspector John DiVenere, Connecticut State Police Troop C and Tracy Miller-Freeman of the Office of Victim Services.
The announcement did not specify a sentencing date or describe the terms of any plea agreement.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
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