Southern California church pastor accused of sexually assaulting several girls

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A Southern California pastor has been arrested for sexually assaulting multiple young girls.

Jose Alcides Vasquez, 47, was arrested “without incident” on September 5 at his home in Menifee, the Ontario Police Department said in a press release. He faces eight charges, according to public records, including aggravated sexual assault of a minor, continuous sexual assault of a child under 14, and lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under 14.

He is being held in the West Valley Detention Center and will appear in court on Monday, according to public records.

Police began investigating Vasquez in August 2021, when a student in Ontario told an administrator at their high school that they were sexually assaulted.

Then, in July, an additional survivor came forward, giving police additional evidence they say links Vasquez to the assaults.

Vasquez was involved with several churches in the region, serving as both a pastor and volunteer, police said. The 47-year-old most recently served as the head pastor at Menifee’s “Camino De Santidad” church.

The Ontario Police Department is asking anyone with additional information to come forward.

Meanwhile, a 61-year-old pastor from North Carolina was arrested on drug and gun-related charges in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 20.

David McGee was arrested by drug and counter-terrorism detectives, who went to his hotel room when he reported an item missing. McGee told police he was visiting Las Vegas from North Carolina and had arrived in a private jet to find his missing daughter. He then told officers he had a gun in the room. Officers also found fentanyl.

“McGee advised [the detective] that he brought the fentanyl from North Carolina on his private jet to Las Vegas and paid approximately $1,000,” the arrest documents said, according to local outlet KLAS. “McGee stated that he was a user of fentanyl and intended to distribute the fentanyl to his daughter when he locate[d] her.”