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Former CO Youth Pastor Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Children

Multiple victims accuse Hipolito Gomez-Perdomo of assaulting them as far back as 1990s

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A former Colorado youth pastor was arrested in March for sexually assaulting multiple children over the course of three decades.

Hipolito Gomez-Perdomo / Photo courtesy of Larimer County Sheriff’s Office

In early 2023, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office of Fort Collins, Colorado, received an allegation that Hipolito Gomez-Perdomo, 65, sexually assaulted a female victim in the early 2000s when the victim was a young child. She did not report the incident due to fear of repercussions but came forward after learning other teenagers had experienced similar abuse by the suspect.

LCSO investigators then found a 2019 report of sexual assault involving Gomez-Perdomo and a different victim, but the District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges. LCSO investigators reopened the previous case in conjunction with the newer allegations.

Meanwhile, an additional victim came forward with descriptions of a similar pattern of abuse occurring in the late 1990s when she was a young child. She alleged that Gomez-Perdomo met her family through church and, after becoming a trusted family friend, sexually assaulted her.

Following a criminal investigation, Gomez-Perdomo was arrested in March 2024 on five counts of Sexual Assault on a Child – Position of Trust and one count of Sexual Assault on a Child. He was booked into the Larimer County Jail on a $200,000 bond, and additional charges are pending.

According to police, Gomez-Perdomo was involved with the Vida Abundante church in North Fort Collins, where he served as a youth pastor. After the 2019 allegations were reported police say he left the congregation, though Vida Abundante’s Google and Facebook profiles features a picture of Gomez-Perdomo and fellow church members together at festive occasions at the church as recently as March 2022. Prior to living in Fort Collins, he lived in Fort Morgan, Colorado, and Houston, Texas.

Investigators believe there may be more victims, and encourage anyone with information to reach out.

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.

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Christopher Mann

Christopher Mann is a freelance writer and 1999 graduate of the World Journalism Institute. He has logged over 30 years in public policy and political communication, helped produce 15 books and monographs, and founded ReSermon.com for pastors and Christian leaders. Chris and Ruth raise their nine manncubs in the suburbs of Fort Wayne, Indiana where they are known as the best Catholics in their Baptist church.

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