A Santa Ana pastor was arrested in Brea for allegedly trying to hook up with a minor

Elmer Pineda-Molina, a volunteer pastor from Santa Ana, was arrested on Sunday afternoon in Brea for attempting to arrange to have sex with someone who was posing as a teenage girl.

Pineda-Molina was arrested at the 800 block of East Birch Street and the Brea Police booked him on suspicion of contacting and meeting a minor for sexual purposes.

Pineda-Molina was identified as a volunteer pastor at Iglesia Ministerios Betesda in Santa Ana, according to a statement issued by the church on Monday, which is supporting the police investigation.

An organization called the CC Unit, or Creep Catching Unit, live-streamed the arrest was involved in the events that led up to it. The CC Unit is an independent group that identifies and confronts potential child predators.

Pineda-Molina is being held at the Theo Lacy Facility and he was scheduled to appear in court this week on Tuesday.

It is not clear yet if Pineda-Molina has retained an attorney.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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