| For Immediate Release Case # 08SF0904 March 14, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
PASTOR CONVICTED OF MOLESTING 14-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PARISHIONER AND SENDING
VICTIM SEXUAL E-MAILS
SANTA ANA – A Protestant pastor of the Apostolic Christian Church in San Clemente was convicted today of molesting a 14-year-old female parishioner that he met through his job. Ricardo Avalos Maffey, 44, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of five felony counts of lewd acts upon a child and one felony count of contacting a minor with the intent to engage in child molest. He faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison at his sentencing April 15, 2011, in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Maffey met 14-year-old Jane Doe through his role as a pastor and began grooming the victim by spending time alone with her while the victim was volunteering in the church office.
Between May 2008 and August 2008, the defendant violated his position of trust by engaging in illegal sexual contact with Jane Doe. On multiple occasions, Maffey kissed Jane Doe on the mouth while the two were alone after prayer service or in the church office. The defendant also inappropriately touched the victim’s leg and buttocks for his sexual gratification.
During this time, the defendant sent numerous e-mails to the victim to arrange future meetings and disclose his sexual urges. The defendant wrote statements including, “Okay, picture dis. U making out with me n my lips are really cracked n dry. As u pull away a lil piece of skin gets stuck 2 u,” and, “There are no ways to describe the most gorgeous, beautiful and bootylicious girl I know.”
The victim’s mother discovered some of the e-mails and contacted the church. The church contacted the police.
During the trial, Jane Doe testified that Maffey instructed her to delete his e-mails to prevent her parents from reading them and told her to e-mail him at work so that his wife would not discover the e-mails on his personal e-mail account.
Evidence was presented during the trial that Maffey confessed to the unlawful sexual conduct to police officers. The defendant testified in court, however, that he had not engaged in any unlawful sexual contact with the victim. Maffey denied kissing Jane Doe on the lips and claimed that he had previously kissed the victim on the forehead and cheek as part of Pentecostal practice. He also said that on one occasion Jane Doe unexpectedly kissed him, but it ended quickly and he was not the instigator.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case. Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.