SANFORD, Fla. – A 33-year-old pastor accused of sexually abusing minors in Florida was behind bars Friday after police officers arrested him in Virginia.
Detectives reported Yersson Solarte, a married father, met the victims while preaching in Spanish at a Pentecostal church in a strip mall in Sanford.
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According to the Sanford Police Department, the investigation into crimes at Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Latinoamericana Orlando Norte, or IPUL, started in April.
“People like this are a special class of criminal, who use their position of trust to prey on innocent victims,” Sanford Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement.
Detectives accused Solarte of sexually assaulting one girl and sexually molesting and harassing another at the church at 2921 South Orlando Drive.
“We pray there aren’t any additional people who have been victimized by this man,” Smith said.
Prince William County Police Department officers arrested Solarte on May 7 for an arrest warrant on charges of sexual battery of a minor and lewd and lascivious molestation.
Solarte was awaiting extradition to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility.
Smith asked anyone with information about more victims in the case to call 1-800-423-8477.
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