CALIFORNIA
KTLA
JUNE 19, 2014, BY MELISSA PAMER
A church volunteer accused of molesting at least five boys and girls in an El Monte congregation where his arrest prompted prayers appeared in court in Pomona Thursday.
Johnny Beserra III, who pleaded not guilty last month to 13 felony counts and one misdemeanor in connection with an ongoing child molestation investigation, appeared for a preliminary hearing setting conference but the proceeding was postponed to July 16.
The May 24 arrest of the 20-year-old shocked officials at United Pentecostal Church in El Monte, where Beserra attended Sunday school and later graduated from the church’s K-12 school, El Monte Christian Academy, according to a pastor at the church.
“We’ve known him for many, many years. It was definitely a shock,” said Nathan Cupoli, a youth minister.
Church officials took the “news” about Beserra to El Monte police within an hour being alerted, Cupoli said Wednesday.
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