El Paso Pastor Charged with Sexual Assault over "Religious Ritual"

KFOX
October 8, 2015

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/El-Paso-pastor-charged-with-sexual-assault-over-39-religious-ritual-39-216390.shtml#.VhkA0vntmkp

[with video]

A pastor at an El Paso church was arrested Wednesday amid accusations that he sexually assaulted a victim through a “religious ritual,” police said.

Noel Jimenez, 69, is a pastor at Iglesia Alabanza y Adoracion at 8485 Roseway Drive in the Lower Valley.

Police said the victim was emotionally dependent on Jimenez as a clergyman and Jimenez convinced the victim the act was a “true religious ritual.”

A neighbor who didn't want to be identified told CBS4 it's scary to know Jimenez is capable of a sex crime.

"You don't know who your neighbors are whether you've lived here a long time or not. I haven't and I'm sure a lot of these people probably don't even know," The woman said.

She didn't know the pastor well, but said she has family members who attended his church.

"It's sad because a lot of people I know did participate with this person and that's not right for him to teach and help the community when he's doing this," she said.

Jimenez was charged with sexual assault and was booked into the county jail with bail set at $75,000.

Anyone else who may have been victimized by Jimenez is asked to call the Police Department at 915-212-4040 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477.