Kissimmee, FL - Angel Perez, 45 was arrested and charged with unlawful sexual activity with a mainor. Perez, who is pastor at Templo Pentecostal Puerto de Salvación, engaged in sexual acts with a 16-year old boy from his church on 3 occasions, the arrests warrant said. According to the police report, Perez and his victim talked about the abuse at church. The teen told police that Perez apologized to him and told him "he was possessed by a demon and didn't know what was going on."
Passaic, NY - Rabbi Gabriel Toledo, an Argentinian on a visitors visa, was arrested with more than 1,000 child pornography pictures and videos in his home. His Honduran roommate Jose Vasquez (22) was also charged with distribution of child pornography.
San Diego, CA - Jose Davila (53 years old) was sentenced to 3 years probation, $200 fine and 150 hours of community services after pleading guilty to unlawful touching of genitals. Davila, an associate pastor at St Jude's Shrine of the West, was accused of touching a 19-year-old woman at his home.
MÉXICO, D.F., Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Onésimo Cepeda, bishop of the State of Ecatepec, on March 25, 2012, on the eve of the bishop’s 75th birthday. The Vatican was quick to point out that according to canon law 401, all bishops must resign when they turn 75 years old. These types of resignations typically take several years, but in the case of Mr. Cepeda, it only took two a record time of months. The bishop stands accused of stealing 42 expensive paintings including some from Goya, Picasso, Dali, Modigliani, and Rufino Tamayo valued at tens of millions of dollars. Cepeda is also accused in court of fraud through a private funeral services he offered through a private company he owned and also accused of violation of church/state favoring PRI’s political party in Mexico.
Efrain Bernal – 41 year old Bernal of Hernet, CA was arrested and charged for sodomy with a child under 10, engaging in lewd acts, forced oral copulation, and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14. Bernal conducted bible studies in his home where he had been molesting a family member for a decade since she was a child. He also is accused of convincing young women, including minors, to strip and pose for photographs during “religious” ceremonies. Bernal’s daughter said “you know, he would use god as a way for them to trust him and to believe him. I always had a feeling something was wrong, but that’s not something you want to believe about your father”. (CBS Los Angeles 3.8.12)
Sentenced – Enrique Alcaraz, 45 of Elsie, MI was sentenced to 5-20 years in prison for child pornography. Alcaraz was a youth pastor at Church of the Living Word and former school board member. He used fake identities online to solicit nude pictures of minors. (Lansing State Journal 11.29.11)
Rev. Arcadio Pineda, 67 – Sentenced – In Oakley, CA Rev. Pineda was sentenced to 210 days in jail, 5 years’ probation and restitution to be determined. Mr. Pineda was the lead pastor of Oak Community Church. He pleaded guilty to felony grand theft for fraudulently taking out a $110,000 mortgage on the church in 2008. Mr. Pineda used the money to support his lavish lifestyle which included a $7,000 trip to Israel in addition to his $40,000/year salary. The church is still on the hook to pay back the mortgage. (Contra Costa Times 11.3.11)
Preacher Arrested -60 year old Rev. Jose Campos was arrested in Miami, FL charged with sexual battery on a minor under 12 years old. Mr. Campos is the pastor of Ministerio Nueva Vida en Cristo Jesus Church and was arrested after an 11 year old boy told his teacher that Mr. Campos had put his hands in the boy's pants while he was sleeping in Mr. Campo's car. The reverend admitted putting his finger into the victim's underwear "by mistake" (Miami Herald 10.20.11)
Preacher Charged - Francisco A. Hernandez, 53, from Elgin, TX was charged with aggravated assault of a child and indecency with a child by sexual contact. Mr. Hernandez is described as a traveling pastor who holds non-denominational services and bible studies in private homes going back to the 1990's. Police detective Sabrina Nichols says there are other victims that range from age 5 to 13 years old. (American-Statement 10.14.11)
Identity Theft - Rev. Victor Rosa was charged with mail fraud and felony identity theft. Mr. Rosa ran the food pantry called Esperanza y Buen Samaritano Ministries and was charged with cashing $241,000 of pension checks sent to a New York teacher who died in 2000. Maria Sicardo, the teacher, lived in the building lived in the Bronx building where the food pantry was located. Bank staff members reported that Rosa often preached about god while standing in line to cash the checks. Rosa had fake notarized papers authorizing him to cash the checks. (Reuters 10.14.11)
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