Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor HACIENDA HEIGHTS - A youth pastor will have to answer to allegations that he sexually assaulted an underage acquaintance, investigators said.
Jonathan Tsai was arrested July 21 — a little more than six months after the allegations came forward. The victim alleged Tsai sexually assaulted when she was 12 years old and the abuse continued until she was 18, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The abuse happened while Tsai was pastor at Home of Christians Eastern Los Angeles Church in Hacienda Heights. He is currently head pastor at the church, now called Abundant Life Ministries. “Her family became close with the suspect and his family. During visits to the victim’s home, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Two additional victims were identified and reported being assaulted by Tsai while they were youths, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. The West Covina Police Department announced Thursday, August 6 that detectives are also investigating Tsai for alleged assaults in West Covina. Tsai was booked at the Walnut Sheriff’s Station. He was held in lieu of $1.4 million bail before posting bond. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed four charges of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old, one count of oral copulation of a person under 16 and one count of sexual penetration of a person under 16. Tsai’s next court date is scheduled for August 26. Anyone who may have been a victim of Tsai is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau tip line at 877-710-5273, or call the West Covina Police tip line at 626-939-8688. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|