Behind the Badge
Anaheim Police Department detectives have arrested a pastor at an Anaheim church on suspicion of committing a series of sex crimes against multiple victims, including minors, over a period of two years.
Rolando Fuentes, 53, of Anaheim, founder of Centro Familiar Cristiano Peniel church, was taken into custody Thursday, Jan. 30, at his home without incident, Sgt. Shane Carringer, police spokesman, said.
Fuentes was taken into custody on a warrant for multiple counts of lewd acts with a minor, rape, child annoyance, sexual battery, and domestic battery.
Many members of the church, at 225 N. State College Blvd., are from the Guatemalan community and investigators believe there is a strong likelihood of additional victims who have yet to come forward.
Anaheim PD Det. Laura Lomeli answers questions in Spanish during a news conference at the Anaheim PD on Jan. 31 concerning the arrest of Rolando Fuentes, a pastor at an Anaheim church, on sexual assault charges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“The Anaheim Police Department is here for you,” said Carringer, referring to additional undiscovered victims. “Our duty is to protect all members of the Anaheim community regardless of race or legal status and the Anaheim Police Department stands ready to protect those victims or any victims of any crime and we are here to provide you with services no matter what your background is.”
Citing the ongoing investigation, Carringer couldn’t get into specifics about the alleged crimes.
Sgt. Shane Carringer, the Anaheim PD’s PIO, announces the arrest of Rolando Fuentes, a pastor at an Anaheim church, on a variety of sexual assault charges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“There does seem to be a relationship between his trusted position as a pastor in this church and the crimes he is accused of committing,” the sergeant said. “Some of the assaults are believed to have taken place at the church.”
The investigation started in November 2019 after one woman came forward to report the alleged crimes.
Police later identified two more victims, Carringer said, a minor and a woman who had been a victim when she was underage and as an adult.
As of Friday afternoon, photos of Fuentes were posted on the church’s website and Facebook page.
Fuentes is in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.
Police are asking victims or anyone with information about the case to contact the Anaheim PD at 714-765-1697.
Anaheim PD Det. Laura Lomeli answers questions in Spanish about the arrest of Rolando Fuentes, a pastor at an Anaheim church, on sexual assault charges.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
