2nd Alleged Victim in Pastor G’s Sex Abuse Trial Takes the Stand Wednesday

WRIC
June 17, 2015

http://wric.com/2015/06/17/trial-for-former-richmond-mega-church-founder-pastor-g-continues-wednesday/

Witnesses are continuing testifying Wednesday in the trial for a former Richmond mega church pastor accused of sexually abusing two Texas teens.

The second alleged victim took the stand Wednesday afternoon just before court was recessed for lunch.

Several people who worked with Geronimo Aguilar in various church projects also testified Tuesday.

Kelly Ortiz, who was part of “Set Free Ministries,” a church that Aguilar’s dad founded in California, testified first on Wednesday morning. Ortiz is also a former member of Aguilar’s church, the Richmond Outreach Center, who came to Richmond in 1998 with her husband help start up the ROC.

Ortiz testified that Pastor G brought one of the alleged victims out to dinner and the movies when his wife was away. She testified she thought that was odd and it seemed like a date to her. Ortiz said she never actually witnessed Pastor G inappropriately touching any alleged victims.

Jason Pena was next to take the stand Wednesday. Pena was part of a church music group Aguilar led in Texas. He testified that he saw Pastor G zipping up his pants in the alleged victims bedroom.

Next to testify was Detective LaRochelle of Anaheim, California Police Department. Detective LaRochelle told the jury he was investigating Aguilar on allegations of child molestation.

Detective LaRochelle testified that he determined the alleged incidents happened in Texas. The case was then sent to police in Forth Worth. Detective LaRochelle said he tried to Pastor G to admit to child molestation on a recorded phone call. Aguilar didn’t admit anything, but Detective LaRochelle says the alleged victim’s mother tipped Aguilar off to the recorded call.

The prosecution began to present its case against Geronimo “Pastor G” Aguilar yesterday.

During Tuesday’s testimony, one of the alleged victims told the jury the former Richmond pastor began touching her inappropriately when she was just 11-years-old. The alleged victim testified that her parents allowed Aguilar, her youth pastor at the time, to live with her family and even share a bedroom with her. She claims the touching turned to sex when she was 13.

“I was laying in my bed and Geronimo came in and we had sex for the first time,” the victim said in court Tuesday.

Aguilar maintains he’s innocent.

During opening statements, we also learned that Aguilar will testify.