By Rob Young
The Appeal-Democrat [Yuba City]
May 11, 2007
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/garcia_48296___article.html/church_sutter.html
The pastor of a Yuba City church has been charged with lewd and lascivious conduct with a girl under the age of 14.
Andres Garcia, 71, of the Primera Iglesia Bautista del Sur Colirio on Franklin Road, waived a preliminary hearing Friday in Sutter County Superior Court. Judge Chris Chandler scheduled a May 21 arraignment.
Garcia has been held in Sutter County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail since his arrest April 2 at his residence in the 500 block of Walton Avenue in Yuba City. The alleged victim lived nearby, police said.
According to Yuba City police and the Sutter County district attorney's office, the alleged incident apparently did not involve the church, which is a short distance from Garcia's home.
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| Andres Garcia May 21 arraignment |
He paid the girl to do odd jobs, they said.
Garcia's court-appointed attorney, Michael Sullinger, said the incident involved mouth-to-mouth contact between Garcia and the girl.
Assistant District Attorney Fred Schroeder called it "one of the less egregious types" of lewd and lascivious behavior. Garcia has no previous record of offenses involving children, he said.
Garcia listed his occupation as pastor or minister when he was booked into Sutter County Jail along with a middle name of Ibbara and nickname of Chion. Gonzales, Texas, was listed as his birthplace.
Church members did not respond to a written request for comment left at the church, which has no listed phone number. Garcia's status with the church is unknown.
No one answered the door Friday at the church. Garcia's name is on a mailbox in the parched front yard, where a water sprinkler was left running.
"Bautista del Sur" in the church's name means Southern Baptist. The church celebrated its 29th anniversary on Easter Sunday in 2006.
Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710. You may e-mail him at ryoung@appeal-democrat.com.
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