Pastor Carlos Ramirez Valdez of International Mission Church USA arrested for numerous child molestation charges
Carlos Ramirez Valdez, a pastor of a church in Santa Ana, is suspected of sexually abusing at least 3 minors and has been arrested on numerous child molestation charges.
Valdez, a 57-year-old man from Riverside, met each of the known victims through churches in Santa Ana, Riverside, and Garden Grove. Valdez is a pastor at International Mission Church USA, located at 505 South Main Street in Santa Ana, California. He is currently being held at Orange County Jail on $100,000 bail.
The first victim reported that she was sexually assaulted by Valdez between 2014 and 2017. Valdez was a member of Iglesia De Dios Ebenezer Church, located at 2020 West Chestnut Ave in Santa Ana.
“During that time, Valdez lured an eight-year-old girl that was attending church service into a van where he sexually assaulted her,” according to the release. “Valdez repeatedly assaulted the victim by luring her into a van over a period of three years.”
A sexual abuse allegation was made by a second victim, who was also eight years old at the time of the abuse. “The abuse was said to have occurred in 2017,” according to the release, and was investigated in January 2020 by Riverside police.
A third report about Valdez was investigated that same month—this time to Garden Grove police—about a victim who was sexually abused in 2015.
“The Santa Ana Police Department detectives believe there could be additional victims,” according to the release. “Detectives are asking for anyone with information to contact Detective J. Gaeta at (714) 245-8350, jgaeta@santa-ana.org
