RIVERSIDE — A 51-year-old former church pastor suspected of sexually abusing two brothers between 2009 and 2015 while their family was living with the cleric at his Riverside home was taken into custody, police said Thursday.
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Detectives received a report from one of the alleged victims in late May, detailing allegations of sexual misconduct by the suspect starting when the victim was 9 years old and continuing into his mid-teenage years, according to the Riverside Police Department.
The victim’s younger brother also reported similar alleged actions by the same suspect, who was once their pastor at Iglesia de Dios Israelita in Fullerton, police said. Detectives later identified the suspect as Juan Barrios, who was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of multiple sexual abuse offenses.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged crimes or other possible additional victims wanting to come forward can contact Officer Kimberly Coronado at 951-353-7949 or KCoronadoRiversideCA.gov, or Detective Christian Wilcox at 951-353-7133 or CWilcoxRiversideCA.gov
In another case announced Wednesday, Ontario Police said they arrested a pastor suspected of sexually assaulting girls at his former residence in Ontario.
Jose Alcides Vasquez, 47, of Menifee, was arrested Sept. 5 after an investigation that started with a report in August 2021 from a high school administrator to a school police resource officer. The administrator said a student alleged their neighbor had sexually assaulted them. Another reported victim came forward in July 2024 and additional evidence was gathered, police said in a statement.
A police statement said Vasquez has been involved with various churches in the Inland Empire, serving as a pastor and volunteer until his arrest. Most recently, he served as the head pastor at Camino De Santidad Church in Menifee, police said.
Police said anyone with information about the reported assaults or who has information helpful to investigators can contact Ontario Police at (909) 986-6711 or contact Detective J. Hernandez at (909) 408-1292.
City News Service contributed to this story.
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
