SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 22-year-old Anaheim man who is a church youth leader was arrested for sexually assaulting two girls.
On March 5, 2019, an 11-year-old girl reported that during a church service, at the Iglesia De Restauracion church Jesse Francisco Hernandez Perez lured her into the church restroom where he sexually assaulted her. The girl did not immediately report the incident and continued to attend the church, located at 1621 East 17th Street in Santa Ana. It was later revealed that there was another victim, a 14-year-old girl from Anaheim. The girl told authorities that she was sexually assaulted while Perez lead a youth program from his home. The incident was reported in March 2019.
Santa Ana Police Special Crimes Detectives arrested Jesse Francisco Hernandez Perez for the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. “Perez has been a member of the church for the past three years and was involved in the church’s music program,” authorities said in the news release.
Santa Ana Police Detectives worked closely with Anaheim Police Detectives throughout this investigation. Santa Ana Police Detectives arrested Perez this morning at his home in Anaheim. Perez was booked at the Orange County Jail on multiple child abuse charges and his bail has been set at $100,000.00.
Santa Ana Police Department Detectives believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Corporal Johanna Perez at 714-245-8351, jperez5@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
