On Wednesday, a court sentenced a former church choir leader to two years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15-year-old choir member.
Victory Outreach Church / Video screenshot @ABC10 News San Diego
Rafael Valentin Magana, 28, who was a choir group leader at Victory Outreach Church in San Ysidro, California, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of lewd acts on a child from an incident that occurred in November 2021.
According to San Diego Police, on the day of the assault, Magana drove the girl to and from a baby shower. Authorities reported that after the baby shower, Magana, who was 25 at the time, took the girl to the Paradise Hills neighborhood, where he parked, sexually assaulted her, and drove her home.
The victim did not disclose the incident to police until March 2023, citing “a confluence of factors.” Magana was detained in August.
In addition to the two-year prison term, Magana is required to register as a sex offender.
At Magana’s sentencing hearing in San Diego Superior Court, Deputy District Attorney Zachary Wallace requested the maximum allowable sentence of three years in prison, citing “extreme emotional and psychological trauma that Mr. Magana inflicted” on the victim.
The prosecutor also claimed Magana took advantage of the girl while serving as the victim’s choir group leader, and Magana had a previous juvenile court conviction for indecent and lascivious actions on a child under the age of 14, which occurred when he was 15.
Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.
The girl, who is now 18 years old, told the court she “suffered in silence” for years after the assault.
In a historic first, San Diego prosecutors have charged Victory’s pastor, Eric Manuel Merino, with allegedly failing to report the abuse to authorities. This is the first time San Diego prosecutors have filed criminal charges against someone suspected of neglecting to report child abuse.
Merino, as a clergyman, is considered a mandatory reporter under California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must therefore report abuse to police or child welfare authorities.
Prosecutors claim that Merino received a report that Magana had sexually abused a teenage girl. On June 6, they arraigned him on one misdemeanor count, to which he pleaded not guilty.
He faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on sex crimes? These stories are tough to read and sometimes even tougher to report, but we think they are vital to our mission to bring transparency, accountability, and credibility to the evangelical church. To read more about why and how we report these stories, read “Why MinistryWatch Reports On Sex Crimes.” You can find that story here.
TO OUR READERS: Do you have a story idea, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? Please email us: info@ministrywatch.com