SNAP Reacts to Ryan Joseph Seider's Arrest for Molestation at Catholic Church

By Matt Coker
Orange County Weekly
September 11, 2015

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/09/ryan_joseph_seider_molest_girl.php

UPDATE, SEPT. 11, 4:59 P.M.: Newport Beach's Joelle Casteix, Western regional director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), has issued a statement regarding the arrest of Ryan Joseph Seider.

We salute the brave young victim for speaking out about her abuse. We applaud her parents who listened and immediately contacted law enforcement. Because of their quick action, they have helped saved other potential victims of sexual abuse.

Bishop Vann must now do the right thing: reach out to anyone and everyone who may have had contact with Ryan Joseph Seider or anyone who uses their position of power to abuse and exploit children.

We hope that Seider does not have other victims, but our experience tells us this is probably not the case. We urge anyone with information about Seider or anyone who has hurt children or covered up abuse to alert the Orange County DAs office.

SNAP is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims.

ORIGINAL POST, SEPT. 11, 10:36 A.M.: An 18-year-old volunteer at St. Kilian Catholic Church is facing charges of molesting a young girl at the Mission Viejo parish, according to prosecutors.

Ryan Joseph Seider of Lake Forest was supervising a group of children at the church on Aug. 22 when he found himself alone with the girl, who is under age 10, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office.

"The defendant is accused of having Jane Doe sit on his lap and committing a lewd act upon the victim," says the OCDA, adding the girl informed her parents, the parents contacted the Orange County Sheriff's Department and, after an investigation, Seider was arrested.

He was charged Thursday with one felony count of lewd act upon a child under 14, and he could go to state prison for eight years and have to register as a sex offender for life if he is convicted, the OCDA says.

Seider, who made his $100,000 bail and is out of custody, is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 23 in Newport Beach.

Because of his position of trust with young children, the OCDA and sheriff's department fear there may be other victims. Anyone with additional information about the current case or who believes they may have been a victim is asked to call OCDA Supervising Investigator Mark Gutierrez at 714.347.8794 or sheriff's Sgt. Wade Walsvick at 714.647.7418.

Email: mcoker@ocweekly.com. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!