SAN DIEGO (CA)
KUSI-TV, Ch. 51 [San Diego CA]
June 6, 2024
By Danielle Dawson
A South Bay pastor was arraigned in a San Diego County Court on Thursday for allegedly failing to report sexual abuse of a teenage choir member at the hands of a member of his church’s congregation, the district attorney’s office said.
Victory Outreach Church pastor Eric Manuel Merino, 43, was charged with one misdemeanor count of violating the state’s mandated reporter law, stemming from the arrest and conviction of 27-year-old Rafael Valentin Magana for sexual abuse of a teenager.
Magana was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl back in 2021 while he was transporting her home from a baby shower held by another member of the congregation. He was found guilty in April on one felony count of a lewd act on a minor.Steele Canyon High School aide arrested for allegedly offering alcohol to students
Now, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan is turning to Merino, who she said made aware of the sexual assault but did not report it to law enforcement or child welfare services — a failure that would violate a mandated reporter’s legal duty.
“Youth in San Diego County deserve to have a safe and healthy environment, free of sexual or physical abuse,” Stephan said in a statement.
“When that kind of abuse does happen, it’s critical that those incidents don’t fall through the cracks and that the people in positions of authority follow their duty to report,” she continued. “Following the law of mandated reporting can potentially protect another child from being sexually abused by the perpetrator.”
Magana is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18. According to the district attorney, he could face up to three years in prison and will also be obligated to register as a sex offender.
If Merino is convicted of violating the mandated reporter law, the pastor could see upwards of six months in jail, as well as a $1,000 fine.