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SoCal Church Pastor Arrested for Child Sex Abuse – Child Sex Abuse Lawyers


SoCal Church Pastor Arrested for Child Sex Abuse Child Sex Abuse Lawyers

The pastor of an Orange County church has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two boys; investigators believe that there may be additional victims. The 51-year-old pastor, identified as Juan Barrios, a resident of Riverside, is currently out on $500,000 bail. He has been a pastor at Iglesia de Dios Israelita in Fullerton.

According to detectives with the Riverside Police Department’s Sexual Assault, Child Abuse Unit, Juan Barrios sexually assaulted two brothers between 2009 and 2015 while their family was living with him at his home. One victim reported the abuse in May 2024; he told authorities that the abuse started when he was nine years old and continued until his mid-teens. This victim’s younger brother also came forward to report similar abuse by the same man.

According to authorities, there was a thorough investigation. Barrios was arrested on September 8, 2024 and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center facing several charges. As mentioned, Barrios posted bail.

If you or a member of your family was a victim of Pastor Juan Barrios, it is important that you contact the authorities as soon as possible. In addition to pursuing criminal charges, you could have grounds to file a civil lawsuit. For more information about the legal options available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team as soon as possible.

Here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group, our pastor child abuse lawyers are more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your right to get justice. Our team has decades of experience handling child sex abuse claims and are ready to fight for your rights. We are not afraid to pursue claims against churches or any other liable entity. For more information about the legal options available to you and your family, contact the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.

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Child Sex Abuse Can Lead to Lasting Harm

Children are very vulnerable to sexual abuse. Usually, sexual abuse occurs at the hands of adults trusted by the children – and by their families. Although every child sex abuse incident is different, some of the potential harm that victims could suffer could include the following:

  • Injuries to genitals
  • Injuries to reproductive organs
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Physical injuries from a struggle, such as fractures, sprains, bruises, and lacerations
  • Mental and emotional injuries, such as post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic, fear, depression, and more
  • Increased risk of self-harm
  • Increased risk of substance abuse

Although children may experience harm immediately after the abuse has occurred, some children may suffer suppressed memories, which could come up many years after the abuse. In fact, some victims of childhood sexual abuse could suffer the consequences of the abuse for the rest of their lives; they may have issues with authority figures, with keeping a job, and with forming normal relationships, for example.

No matter the specific harm that you or a loved one suffered due to child sexual abuse at the hands of a pastor or any other church staff, it is important that you seek legal help as soon as possible. You could have the right to file a lawsuit. You could also be entitled to receive compensation.

Can I Sue for Child Sexual Abuse by a Pastor?

Yes, you could have the right to file a lawsuit. When the abuse happens at a church, the church organization could be liable for all resulting harm. In general, this is due to failing to identify and address the abuse – including allowing the abuse to happen or even covering up the abuse. In the case above, it is unclear whether the abuse occurred at the church or at the pastor’s home (since the victims lived at his home with their family when the abuse happened). Still, victims and their families could have the right to file a lawsuit.

For more information about the legal options available for you and your family after pastor child sexual abuse, contact us today.

What Compensation is Available?

Although child sex abuse claims are different, some of the different categories of compensation available could include the following:

  • Medical costs
  • Lost earnings
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Punitive damages
  • Treble damages
  • Legal costs

Unfortunately, our team handles child sex abuse cases frequently. With each case we handle, we remain completely dedicated to fighting for the rights of their clients and getting them the maximum recovery possible. Whether out experts have to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial to reach a verdict, you can be certain that our team will do everything possible to secure the highest payout available for your claim.

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How Long Do I Have to Sue for Child Sexual Abuse?

All claims – including claims surrounding child sex abuse – are subject to a deadline (a statute of limitations. Claimants must file their claims by within the appropriate deadline to preserve their right to sue; in other words, if claimants do not file on time, they could lose their right to sue entirely. For victims of child sex abuse, these claims must be filed before the age of forty – or twenty-two years from reaching eighteen. There is also a five-year discovery rule that may apply; this gives victims of child sex abuse up to five years from the date of discovering the harm resulting from the abuse to file a claim, even past the age of forty.

For more information about the total length of time that you have to file your child sex abuse claim, contact us today.

Contact the Downtown L.A. Law Group Today – Our Child Sex Abuse Lawyers Can Help!

Our team has decades of experience handling child sex abuse and is ready to provide you with the guidance that you to fight for justice. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, contact us today. We offer free case evaluations, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free case evaluations, our team will be available to answer all your questions, address your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you may need to start or continue your claim. To schedule a free case review, contact us today!

Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. In addition, our law firm works on contingency, so our clients will not be responsible to pay any legal costs if their claims are unsuccessful. Contact us today!


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