Former South O.C. pastor arrested for multiple counts of child molestation

Editor’s Note – We are posting this in case the suspect also allegedly molested anyone from the Santa Ana area.

MISSION VIEJO, Ca. (August 27, 2020) – Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Detail investigators arrested a man yesterday suspected of committing multiple lewd acts on an underage girl beginning in 2010.

The man, Jose Andres Lopez, 67, of Mission Viejo, was arrested in San Juan Capistrano on suspicion of multiple counts of felony child molestation. Lopez previously volunteered as a pastor at Pacific Hills Calvary Chapel in Aliso Viejo between 2003 and 2005. He also volunteered at Compass
Bible Church in Aliso Viejo between 2012 and 2020.

Lopez was known to the female victim, who was under the age of 10 when the molestation began.

Sheriff’s investigators were initially contacted when the victim reported the sexual assault on August
23, 2020.

Due to Lopez having continued access and contact with children over the past 17 years and his role with the church, investigators believe there may additional victims.

Please contact the Special Victims Detail at (714) 647-7419 if you have any information. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

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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