Norwalk Pastor, Suspected of Molesting 20 Women, Sentenced to 6 Years in Sexual-penetration Case

By Beatriz Valenzuela
The Press-Telegram
August 15, 2014

http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20140815/ex-norwalk-pastor-suspected-of-molesting-20-women-sentenced-to-6-years-in-sexual-penetration-case

A former Norwalk pastor was sentenced to six years in state prison this week after he pleaded no contest to sexually assaulting a congregant.

Jorge Castro, 55, who was a pastor at Las Buenas Nuevas Church in Norwalk, pleaded no contest to a felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object and was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

In April of 2010, one of the church’s female congregants went to Castro for spiritual counseling, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. While praying for the woman, he sexually assaulted her. Castro, however, is suspected of molesting as many as 20 women, most of whom were Spanish-speaking undocumented immigrants.

Castro was arrested in September after reports of the abuse. He was charged with six felony counts in connection with the alleged sexual assaults of four women between ages 18 and 39.

The alleged crimes took place between 2004 and 2012.

Although 20 women reported being assaulted by Castro, only four were willing to speak with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives because he allegedly threatening the women with deportation.