The pastor of a church in Orange County, California, has been arrested on allegations that he sexually abused two boys over a period of six years.
Juan Barrios, 51, was arrested and charged with multiple crimes related to sexual abuse of minors. He was released on a $500,000 bond.
Investigators began looking into crimes related to Barrios when one of the victims reported the alleged sexual abuse in May of this year. Barrios abused two brothers from 2009 to 2015 while the boys’ family lived with him at his home. One of the victims said his abuse started when he was 9 years old and lasted into his mid-teens.
That victim’s younger brother also made similar abuse claims about Barrios, who is the pastor at the church that both boys attended. Barrios pastored a small, Spanish-speaking church known as Iglesia De Dios Israelita in Fullerton, California.
Police said they arrested the pastor on September 8 after a thorough investigation. The Riverside Police Department believes the two brothers may not be Barrios’ only victims.
Riverside Police asked for anyone with additional information to contact them. “Due to the nature of these allegations, detectives believe there could be others that Mr. Barrios victimized that have not yet come forward.”
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