Pastor jailed: Gerardo Custodio Jr, 30, a youth pastor from California, has been charged with multiple counts of engaging in lewd acts with minors
A California youth pastor has been charged with repeatedly molesting two teenage girls, including at the Ontario church led by his father.
Gerardo Custodio Jr, 30, was arrested on Sunday on multiple charges of engaging in lewd acts with a minor stemming from alleged incidents that occurred between 2012 and 2015.
According to a press release from the Ontario Police Department, Custodio has served for many years as a youth pastor at the Iglesia La Familia De Dios on North Euclid Avenue in Ontario, where his father, Gerardo Custodio Sr, is the senior pastor.
Police say Custodio Jr had spent time away from the church while attending college but resumed his duties there in 2011.
On Saturday, police interviewed two young female parishioners from LA Famila De Dios who had come forward to report that they had been asexually abused by their youth pastor.
House of worship: Custodio is a long-time youth pastor at Iglesia La Familia De Dios in Ontario, California, where police say some of the sexual encounters had taken place
The suspect’s father, Gerardo Custodio Sr (pictured right with son), 61, is the senior pastor at the church
One of the victims was 14 years old in 2012 when she said Custodio Jr, then aged 24, allegedly began abusing her. According to the woman, some of the sexual encounters took place at the house of worship between 2012 and 2014.
The second victim said she was 15 years old when her encounters with the then-26-year-old pastor took place between 2014 and 2015.
Police said Custodio Jr, of Upland, also faces additional charges involving both victims.
Following his arrest, Custodio Jr was taken to the West Valley Detention Center, where his bail was set at $3million.
Investigators believe there may be more victims out there and they are encouraging them to come forward.
Custodio Jr (pictured left with his mother and twin sisters) is accused of molesting two girls, aged 14 and 15, between 2012-2015
According to the church’s website, Gerardo Custodio Sr immigrated to the US with his family from their native El Salvador in 1995, just a few months after La Familia De Dios opened its doors.
The 61-year-old senior pastor is married and has three children, including his son and 24-year-old twin daughters. The father is not facing any criminal charges.
DailyMail.com on Tuesday reached out to the church for comment on the allegations against the youth pastor and was awaiting a response.
Anyone with information about this case is being asked to call the Ontario police at (909) 986-6711.