| For Immediate Release March 25th, 2004 |
Contact: | Mark Macaulay District Attorney Spokesperson (714) 347-8405 (O) (714) 323-4486 (C) |
A SANTA ANA PASTOR IS CHARGED WITH 20 COUNTS OF CHILD MOLESTATION AND EXHIBITING PORNOGRAPHY TO A MINOR
Santa Ana – Oscar Abel Mendez, 37, of Santa Ana was charged this afternoon with fourteen (14) felony counts of committing lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, four (4) felony counts of exhibiting pornography to a minor, misdemeanor child annoyance, and misdemeanor possession of child pornography. If convicted on all charges, Mendez faces 66 years to life in prison. He is being held in the Orange County Jail on $1,000,000 bail.
Mendez is a self-proclaimed pastor of the church “Iglesia Candelero De Oro” which operates out of a garage in Garden Grove. He is accused of molesting two young boys whom he met through his work as a pastor. The sexual misconduct is believed to have occurred between October 1, 2003, and March 22, 2004, and includes oral copulation, anal penetration, and masturbation.
Superior Court Judge Marc Kelly continued the arraignment until 9 a.m. April 1, 2004, in department C55 at the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Deputy District Attorney Denise Alexander in the Sexual Assault Unit is assigned to the case.