$1.1 M Bail for Church Volunteer Accused of Multiple Sexual Assaults
Photo: Isaias Vasquez
Based upon the recent arrests of Oxnard resident Isaias Vasquez—a frequent volunteer at Oxnard’s Iglesia Pentecostes Un Nuevo Florecer—local area churchgoers may be more careful in the future about engaging the services of lay personnel who have the opportunity to come into contact with the children of parishioners.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Hector Macias, Vasquez came to the attention of Oxnard Police Department detectives on February 12th with the report of a 14-year-old female indicating that “she had been sexually assaulted at a motel” after being “lured to the motel” with the promise of employment.
The immediately ensuing investigation identified a second alleged 17-year-old victim who reported that in January 2021 she had fallen for the same promise of work and been similarly assaulted by Vasquez.
Just three days later, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department detectives became aware of “another 14-year-old victim” who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Vasquez “while in a car” in the unincorporated area of Ojai, Ca.
At that point, the investigation picked up momentum. Vasquez was determined to have made initial contact with the three girls “while volunteering” at the Oxnard church. On February 15th , Oxnard PD detectives made contact with Vasquez and arrested him on charges of rape of an unconscious person. He was booked into Ventura County Jail at that time, with his bail set at $100,000. He then posted bail and was released.
But with the passage of another three days, additional evidence compelled VCSD detectives to make contact with Vasquez and take him into custody once again.
He was then booked and charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts. Forty-eight hours later, while still in custody, he was arrested and charged with the rape of the 17-year-old female victim, and his bail was adjusted to $1,1000,000.
Photo: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking
