A Southern California pastor has been arrested and charged with multiple counts related to alleged child sexual abuse of at least two female victims. Jose Alcides Vasquez, 47, was arrested at his home in Menifee, California, on Sept. 5.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse, which some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Vasquez faces eight charges, including one count of lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim younger than 14, one count of aggravated sexual assault of a minor younger than 14, two counts of sodomy of a victim younger than 10, one count of oral copulation with a victim younger than 16, and two counts of oral copulation with a victim younger than 10.
The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by police in Ontario, California, roughly 50 miles north of Menifee, where Vasquez formerly lived.
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According to police, Vasquez has served as a pastor or volunteer at several churches in the region known as the Inland Empire, most recently as head pastor of the Menifee location of Iglesia De Cristo Camino De Santidad.
Iglesia De Cristo Camino De Santidad is a multisite church largely focused on Spanish language ministry. The church has locations throughout California, as well as congregations in Oregon and Texas.
According to its website, Iglesia De Cristo Camino De Santidad is “an international ministry established in South Los Angeles neighboring with Huntington Park,” whose “mission is to preach the gospel to as many places may our Lord Jesus Christ send us to.”
The Ontario Police Department began its investigation in 2021 when a high school administrator reported that a student alleged that Vasquez, then the student’s neighbor, had sexually assaulted her.
The case had remained open since the initial allegations were brought forward, as police sought more evidence before charges were filed.
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Another victim came forward in July of this year, leading police to uncover more evidence of Vasquez’s alleged sexual assaults.
