RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -Richmond Pastor Geronimo Scott Aguilar surrendered without incident to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at his home in Richmond, Virginia about 4:00 p.m. local time, according to Fort Worth authorities.
Warrants were issued for Aguilar, known as Pastor G, charging him with aggravated sexual battery of a child under 14 in Tarrant County, Texas on Monday.
Aguilar's attorney, David Carlson, said Aguilar was previously cleared by Texas investigators when two girls initially made the accusations in late 1990s.
“Seventeen or so years later, these things have resurfaced, for whatever reasons,” attorney David Carlson told CBS 6 reporter Mark Holmberg.“They’ve decided to proceed with an ex parte investigation. By ex parte, they have listened to one side of the story and have not even afforded him the opportunity to have any input.”
The 43-year-old pastor leads the Richmond Outreach Center (ROC). For the last several years, CBS 6 has aired services recorded at the ROC on Sunday morning as part of our religious paid programming.
In a statement to CBS 6, the Fort Worth Police Department said that the case was assigned to Fort Worth Police Detective Nash. Detective Nash investigated the case and determined that there was probable cause to believe that Aguilar had committed the offense of "Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 14."
After consulting with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office, Detective Nash generated two (2) probable cause arrest warrants for those charges, one for each victim.
Due to the age of the victims at the time of the offense, this is an “Aggravated” charge. Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 14 is a 1st degree felony in the State of Texas and is punishable by 5-99 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
One church member tells CBS 6 that he knows many of the current members had this to say about the Roc's pastor, and the charges against him:
"After 17 years, they're just now bringing charges. And for that reason, I'd be suspicious on how they developed just recently,” said Richard Rice.
According to court records, ROC’s Executive Pastor Jason Helmlinger was charged and arrested Monday for making threats against another former ROC Pastor, Allen Caldwell, who has served under Pastor G for 10 years.
Watch CBS 6 News and visit WTVR.com for updates on this case.
