Oscar D. Perez Perez: A Lake Forest Pastor Accused of Pedophilia
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We all know what Jesus wouldn't do--molest five boys from his church.
But that's what 69-year-old Lake Forest man Oscar D. Perez Perez, a self-professed apostolic pastor and bishop at Iglesia Antigua Católica in Laguna Hills, faces trial for, starting today, for having allegedly lured the boys through the ministry that operates out of rented space at St. George's Episcopalian Church.
Perez is charged with 22 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, four felony counts of lewd acts on a child, and faces sentencing enhancement allegations for lewd acts against multiple victims. If convicted, he could be leading Bible studies for up to 330 years in state prison.
He is accused of meeting his five victims through the church and gaining their trust by befriending their families and having the boys assist with church services, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office.
Between 2007 and 2011, Perez is accused of sexually assaulting the five victims one or more times, starting when the boys were 9 to 15 years old. All of the sexual assaults occurred while the victims were visiting or sleeping over at the defendant's apartment, authorities said.
The sexual assault against the victims allegedly included "sodomy, oral copulation, sexual penetration, touching of the victim's penis and/or buttocks, kissing, and hugging," according to authorities.
Sometime after the sexual assault of John Doe No. 1, the victim told his mother about the abuse and she reported it to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which investigated this case. The subsequent investigation led to the discovery of John Doe No. 2.
Perez was arrested and charged for the first two victims in September, 2011. Based on continued investigations and media coverage, the Sheriff's Department discovered three more John Does, and Perez was charged by the District Attorney's office for the additional sex crimes in January.
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