Pastor Withheld Knowledge of Sexual Abuse

By David Harris
Orlando Sentinel
July 18, 2014

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-seminole-pastor-failed-report-abuse-20140718,0,7699623.story

A Seminole County pastor was arrested Thursday for not reporting to law enforcement that a man was sexually abusing three girls, officials said.

Pastor Cesar Chin knew about the abuse for at least a year, but said nothing to authorities, according to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. Both the victims and the suspect confided in Chin, and he was acting as a counselor, deputies said.

"That's a year that went by without us being able to go in there and stop this and to provide the victims services," said Kim Cannaday, spokeswoman for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. "They were allowed to be re-victimized."

The alleged abuser, Normail Reynoso Perez, is facing abuse charges. His wife, Irma Gallegos Torres, also is facing charges for not reporting the alleged abuse. She even walked in on it once, deputies said.

The abuse of the girls may have been going on for at least seven years and would occur weekly, deputies said in the arrest affidavit.

Chin told police he did not go to authorities because he did not have proof, according to the affidavit. Because Chin was acting as a counselor, pastor confidentiality does not apply, said Cannaday.

"He is absolutely legally obligated to report the abuse," she said.

Chin's church, which translates roughly in English as "Church of Jesus, Our Only Hope," has been renting space from the Fellowship Church of Winter Springs for about 15 years, said Senior Pastor Roger Diaz. Chin's church is not affiliated with Fellowship Church. The suspects and victims were members of Chin's church.

Diaz said Chin came to him last week and told him what was going on. Diaz's concern was for the children, he said.

"When I heard it I was floored," said Diaz. "I said 'you have to address this and you have to do it now.'"

Diaz said it was a mistake for Chin not to report the abuse to the authorities.

David Clohessy, director of the St. Louis-based of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said he was "extremely disappointed" by Chin and Gallegos Torres.

"They did nothing [and] let an innocent child suffer needlessly. Shame on them," he said in a statement.

Reynoso Perez, who is charged with sexual assault of a victim younger than 12 and other abuse charges, could face life in prison if convicted. He was denied bond.

An immigration hold is keeping Gallegos Torres in jail, according to records.

Chin is out on bond, deputies said. He could not be reached for comment.

dharris@tribune.com or 407-420-547