A former youth pastor at Grace Hills Church in Aliso Viejo was arrested on Wednesday on charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and child annoyance, deputies said.
Sheriff's investigators were contacted Monday about Brandon McDade, 30, after deputies took a report of those allegations. According to investigators, several other victims were contacted over the course of the investigation. Each indicated they had engaged in inappropriate conduct with McDade over a two-year period.
The teenage victims attended Grace Hills Church and were part of the youth group when the lewd acts allegedly occurred. Investigators reported that several of the incidents occurred on church property.
McDade has been employed by the church for about six years, and based on the allegations, his leadership role and access to children, investigators believe there are additional victims.
He was booked into the Orange County Jail and is being held on $20,000 bail.
It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.
Anyone with information regarding additional victims is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Special Victim's Unit at (714) 647-7418 or (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.
Source: nbclosangeles.com
Photo: vosizneias.com