Southern California Pastor Arrested for Child Sex Abuse
Cops: Spanish Language-Focused Minister had Multiple Victims
For three years, police in Ontario, California, had their sites on a local pastor suspected of child sexual assault, but lacked enough evidence to act.
Then in July, another alleged victim came forward.
On Sept. 5, police made their move, and as ChurchLeaders.com reports, 47-year-old Jose Alcides Vasquez was arrested at his home about 50 miles away in Menifee.
The eight charges against Vasquez include lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under 14, aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, oral copulation with a child under 16, and two counts each of oral copulation with a child under 10 and sodomy of a child under 10.
The abuses allegedly occurred at Vasquez’ former residence in Ontario, and police believe he may have other victims.
A press release from the Ontario police describes Vasquez as having served as a pastor and volunteer at various churches in the Inland Empire, an area bordering Los Angeles and Orange counties, up until the time of his arrest. His most recent role was head pastor at Iglesia De Camino De Santidad in Menifee.
The investigation began in August of 2021, when, according to the police statement, “an Ontario Police School Resource Officer (SRO) was notified by a high school administrator that a student alleged their neighbor had sexually assaulted them. The suspect was identified as Jose Alcides Vasquez.”
According to police, “In July 2024, another victim came forward, and detectives were able to obtain additional evidence that further incriminated Vasquez.”
Iglesia De Cristo Camino De Santidad is a multisite church that primarily focuses on Spanish language ministry and has locations in California as well as in Oregon and Texas. Its website describes it as “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.”
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Vasquez surrendered without incident and is being held on $500,000 bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
The press release urged “anyone who may have witnessed the sexual assaults or who was victimized by Vasquez” to contact the Ontario police.
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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