Crime & Safety
Bishop From Lake Forest Accused of Sexual Misconduct With Boy
The bishop of a Laguna Hills church has been arrested on suspicion of lewd acts with the preteen son of a congregation member. A second possible victim is being interviewed by police.
The bishop of a Laguna Hills church has been arrested on suspicion of lewd acts with a preteen boy, officials said Monday.
Bishop Oscar Perez Perez, 68, of the Old Catholic Church, which isn't affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, was arrested Saturday night at his home in Lake Forest.
The investigation began after the son of a congregation member told his mother about the alleged molestation, according to Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The boy's age wasn't revealed, but he is younger than 12, Amormino said.
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Perez was being held on $100,000 bail. No specifics on what he allegedly did were immediately available.
A second possible victim, also a young boy, was being interviewed, Amormino said Monday.
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Perez has been at the church "for a couple years, so it's possible there are other victims," Amormino said.
The church rents out space from St. George's Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, according to City News Service. St. George's declined to comment.
--City News Service contributed to this report.
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