Two Church Members Arrested for Sex Crimes With Minors

VICTORVILLE:(VVNG.com)- Two Hesperia men both members of the Centro Cristiano de fe Church in Victorville have been arrested for various sex crimes involving minors. Detectives are releasing the booking photos of Vargas and Rios as they believe there are additional victims.

According to a press release, on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 deputies from the Victorville Police Department received a report of a possible inappropriate sexual relationship between a 14-year-old female and 2 adult males. As the investigation continued, deputies from the Hesperia Police Department and detectives from the Crimes against Children Detail continued the investigation. Further investigation led detectives to a second victim, a 17-year-old female.

Through investigation, the suspects were identified as 22-year-old Victor Callejas-Vargas, an employee and youth pastor of the Centro Cristiano de Fe Church located in Victorville. The second suspect was identified as 19-year-old Jesse Rodolfo Rios, a resident and member of the Centro Cristiano de Fe Church. The two victims are both members of the church.

Investigators conducted interviews with the suspects. Both suspects were subsequently arrested, transported and booked into the High Desert Detention Center. Vargas was booked for PC 261.5(c), sex with a minor three years younger, PC 261.5(d), sex with a minor with the suspect over 21 and the victim under 16 years of age, and PC 288(B)(2), oral copulation with a person under 16. Vargas is being held on $100,000 bail. Rios was booked for PC 288(B)(1), oral copulation with a person under 18, and PC 289(H), sex with a foreign object and is being held on $100,000 bail. Both are scheduled to be arraigned on September 17th, 2014.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Detective Michelle Brand or Sergeant Dana Foster (909) 387-3651. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

(source: SBSD Headquarters)