Former Harpeth Hall coach pleads guilty to sexual abuse

A former Harpeth Hall soccer coach and professional soccer player has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing seven underage girls.

George "Rico" Laise, once one of Nashville's highest-profile advocates for local soccer, pleaded guilty late last week to nine counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, two counts of solicitation of the sexual exploitation of a minor and four counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. As part of a plea deal, he will serve 12 full years in prison — with no chance of early release for good behavior or parole.

"I think the victims were satisfied with the resolution of the case and glad to put it behind them," said Assistant District Attorney General Kristen Menke, who prosecuted the case.

Menke said the plea deal allowed the victims — some of whom Laise coached on a traveling team unrelated to Harpeth Hall — to avoid having to testify and relive their abuse.

Laise, 47, was known as a local immigrant success story, rising from poverty in Costa Rica to play soccer professionally before coaching several Nashville-area soccer teams. He was also active in youth coaching.

Laise was arrested in June 2013, after allegations arose that he sexually abused a 16-year-old girl who was suffering from the effects of a serious concussion on a travel team he coached. Two days after his arrest, Laise tried unsuccessfully to hang himself in his jail cell.

Meanwhile, the number of victims quickly grew. Menke said an investigation found that the abuse began about five years ago and involved seven victims, some of whom were from outside Tennessee. They ranged in age from 14 to 17.

Laise's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Laura Dykes, said she wasn't comfortable commenting without permission from Laise, whom she could not immediately reach.

Reach Brian Haas at 615-726-8968 and on Twitter @brianhaas.