Bay Area church pastor charged with sexual abuse of 4 young victims, DA's office says
Victor Manuel Hernandez is now held on $10 million bail
RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) -- A Bay Area pastor who was arrested last week for alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of minors has been charged Tuesday with 16 counts including kidnapping and child sexual abuse, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.
Victor Manuel Hernandez, 53, a pastor Iglesia Pentecostes Movimiento de Gloria in Richmond, faces more than a dozen counts involving four victims, wrote ABC7 News I-Team reporter Dan Noyes on X.
PREVIOUS REPORT: I-TEAM EXCLUSIVE: Bay Area church pastor charged with child sexual abuse
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office tells Dan Noyes the criminal complaint lists several counts of forcible rape of child under 14, lewd act on a child, kidnapping, forcible rape over 14 and child molestation.
"I think anytime you have a sexual assault case against minors, even if those minors are now adults, we take it very seriously. And it's absolutely important to see if there are more victims out there to know that they should come forward, speak to police, let them take a report," said Ted Asregadoo with the Contra Costa District Attorney's office.
Hernandez is now held on $10 million bail. The pastor makes his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon.
Richmond police is investigating this case, and believe there may be more victims. If you have information, call authorities.
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