Oscar Rodriguez, a 71-year-old Santa Cruz man who has worked with children at the Calvary Chapel church in Aptos, has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse of a minor seven years ago.
In a release, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said detectives were first informed of the allegations in August.
“After conducting a thorough investigation, a warrant was obtained for his arrest,” the department said. “Rodriguez has worked with children as a minister at a local church, therefore detectives are looking into the potential for additional victims.”
Tom Meyers, senior pastor for Calvary Chapel Aptos, told Lookout that Rodriguez is no longer affiliated with the church and that he was not able to comment on Rodriguez’s arrest.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Rodriguez was still listed as an “elder” on the church’s website, his photo prominently displayed next to a picture of Meyers, who said that the church was working toward removing his name from the site; as of Thursday morning it was no longer on the church’s site.
Rodriguez faces multiple felony charges, including lewd and lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years old, contact with a minor with intent to commit sex acts, and arranging to meet with a minor for lewd or lascivious acts.
The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information about the case to call its dispatch desk at 831-471-1121.
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your press releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
