A Southern California pastor who preyed on children he met through his church has been sentenced to 45 years to life in state prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting three young girls over a span of seven years.
Carlos Ramirez Valdez, 61, of Riverside, was found guilty in August of 11 felony counts of lewd acts with a child under 14 and three felony counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child under 10, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Valdez served as a church leader at Iglesia de Dios Ebenezer Church in Santa Ana during the time of the assaults, which occurred between 2012 and 2019, before later becoming a pastor at another Santa Ana congregation. Prosecutors said Valdez used his position of authority and religious trust to gain access to vulnerable children.
Pattern of Abuse Hidden Behind the Pulpit
The court heard harrowing details of how Valdez exploited his role to groom and repeatedly assault the victims — some as young as four years old.
One victim, between the ages of 4 and 10, was repeatedly assaulted in Valdez’s truck, often parked in the church parking lot or basement, according to prosecutors. The child ultimately disclosed the abuse to a school counselor, triggering the investigation that led to his arrest.
In a separate case, a 9-year-old girl told Garden Grove police in 2020 that Valdez had molested her years earlier, between 2014 and 2015, after driving her home from church.
A third victim came forward to Riverside police, reporting that Valdez assaulted her several times in a backyard shed in 2017 when she was just 7 and 8 years old.
Community Betrayal and Legal Consequences
In delivering the sentence, prosecutors emphasized the magnitude of Valdez’s betrayal of trust, noting that his actions not only destroyed young lives but also eroded community faith in sacred institutions.
“Churches should be safe sanctuaries, not hunting grounds for child abusers,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “These young women were subjected to unimaginable abuse by someone in a position of trust.”
The case reflects a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse scandals that have shaken faith communities nationwide, raising urgent questions about accountability and child protection policies in religious spaces.
Broader Legal Implications
Legal experts note that cases like Valdez’s underscore why California’s sentencing structure for crimes involving child sexual abuse remains among the harshest in the nation.
Under state law, lewd acts with a minor under 14 and sexual penetration of a child under 10 carry mandatory lengthy sentences that can lead to life imprisonment — a reflection of society’s intolerance for such predatory behavior.
Advocates for survivors of sexual abuse continue to call for stricter reporting obligations within religious organizations, arguing that positions of spiritual authority often shield predators from scrutiny until it is too late.
For Valdez, the sentence of 45 years to life ensures he will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars — a measure of justice for the three young girls whose childhoods were irrevocably scarred by his crimes.
