Convicted climbing coach sought internationally as police still have not found him

A climbing coach at the Riga children and youth centre "Daugmale", sentenced to eight years in prison for sexual violence against a minor, has been put on an international wanted list. The news comes from the programme "Panorāma" on Latvian Television (LTV). The State Police have not yet found him, so the sentence has not been served.

European arrest warrant

The Riga City Court told the programme that a European arrest warrant was issued against the convicted man on 8 July this year. It is needed to enforce the sentence set by the court's ruling. The warrant was sent to the International Cooperation Bureau of the State Police Central Criminal Police Department, which is to arrange his search abroad.

The international search was announced after law enforcement received information that the man may be in Lithuania.

Why the coach disappeared

Ģirts Aizsils, a judge of the Criminal Cases Panel of the Riga Regional Court, told LTV that the coach's disappearance is linked to the appeal proceedings: the case was heard in writing, so the convicted man was not present in court. The court had earlier found no indication that the defendant might evade serving his sentence.

How the case developed

In 2025 the court of first instance sentenced the coach to nine years in prison and banned him for three years from running any kind of activities for minors. This spring the Riga Regional Court reduced the sentence by one year, setting eight years of imprisonment. It also imposed four years of probation supervision and a three-year ban on leading activities for minors. As the news agency LETA learned from the court, the sentence was reduced because the coach fully admitted his guilt and expressed remorse. Previously he had admitted guilt only in part.

The appeal court's decision cannot be appealed further and has come into force.

The coach had been charged with performing acts of a sexual nature with a minor, taking advantage of the victim's helplessness and his own authority, in order to satisfy his sexual desire through physical contact with the victim.