Crime & Safety

Details of Alleged Molestation by Bishop Revealed

Prosecutors outline accusations made by two preteen boys. Bail for Lake Forest resident Oscar Perez set at $1 million.

Officials are seeking more alleged victims of a Lake Forest man charged with sexually assualting two boys who belong to his Laguna Hills-based congregation.

Oscar D. Perez Perez, 68, was arraigned Tuesday on four felony counts of lewd acts on children under 14, as well as a sentencing enhancement for multiple victims.

Perez is a pastor and bishop at Iglesia Antigua, a church that rented space at St. George's Episcopalian Church in Laguna Hills. Prosecutors allege he met the the two 11-year-old boys at church and had them sleep over at his apartment at different times. 

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

(Iglesia Antigua bills itself as Old Catholic, a breakaway sect that is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic church or Diocese of Orange.)

Perez is suspected of "kissing the victim on the mouth using tongue" and "rubbing John Doe #1's penis under his clothes, making skin to skin contact," the district attorney's office wrote in a press release.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An investigation of that case led to the .

According to the D.A., the second victim stayed at the pastor's apartment on one occasion, awakening to find Perez sodomizing him. In another instance, the minister allegedly rubbed "John Doe #2's penis and buttocks, making skin to skin contact."

Those acts allegedly occurred as long ago as January 2008, according to the D.A.

If convicted, Perez faces a maximum of life in state prison.

At Perez's court appearance Tuesday, bail was set at $1 million and protective orders were issued for both victims.

Perez did not enter a plea. His arraignment was postponed to Sept. 19.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.