Man Pleads No Contest to Abuse
A registered sex offender who used the Internet and skateboards to lure children to his home pleaded no contest Tuesday to two counts of lewd acts with a minor and may spend the rest of his life in prison, prosecutors said.
Nicky Hernandez, 36, also known as Ethan Marrick, had been convicted twice before and served six years in prison for child molestation.
Hernandez lured boys from across the country to his West Hollywood apartment by offering them skateboarding sponsorships from his company, Hektic Skateboards.
His website, which has been in operation since his 1999 prison release, profiles skateboarders, prosecutors said. Through the site, Hernandez invited teenagers to stay with him in California and took them to competitions in Arizona, Washington and Nevada.
He was charged with molesting seven boys ages 13 to 16 in 2002 and 2003. He entered his plea Tuesday before Judge Richard Stone.
Hernandez will probably be sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of 25 years to life, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Janis Johnson. Sentencing is scheduled for May 26.
Hernandez was arrested Aug. 7 after an 18-month FBI investigation. He was originally charged with 31 counts, including child molestation and giving marijuana to a minor.
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