Coach convicted of sexual abuse disappears, placed on international wanted list

A climbing coach at the Riga children and youth centre "Daugmale", who was convicted of sexual violence against a minor, has been placed on an international wanted list, according to the Latvian Television (LTV) programme "Panorāma". The convicted man vanished once the ruling took effect, and police have not yet located him.

European arrest warrant

The Riga City Court told the programme that a European arrest warrant was issued against the convict on 8 July this year so that the sentence imposed on him can be carried out. The warrant was sent to the International Cooperation Department of the State Police's Central Criminal Police Department, which is responsible for ensuring his search abroad. The international search was announced after law enforcement received information that the man might be in Lithuania.

Ģirts Aizsils, a judge of the Criminal Cases Panel of the Riga Regional Court, explained to 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 not previously found that he might evade serving his sentence.

Course of the case

In 2025 the court of first instance sentenced the coach to nine years in prison and banned him for three years from leading any kind of activities for minors. This spring the Riga Regional Court cut the prison term 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. The court reduced the sentence because the coach fully admitted guilt and expressed remorse; earlier he had admitted guilt only in part. The appeal ruling cannot be challenged and has entered into force.

The coach was charged with carrying out sexual acts with a minor, exploiting the victim's helplessness and his own authority, in order to satisfy his sexual desire through physical contact with the victim.