"Pastor G" Surrenders to Authorities, Now in Custody

WRIC
May 21, 2013

http://www.wric.com/story/22265268/texas-authorities-pastor-g-in-custody-charges-pending


8News has learned that Texas authorities confirm Geronimo Aguilar is in custody, after surrendering without incident at his home in Richmond Tuesday afternoon. Two warrants had been issued for Aguilar's arrest earlier in the week.

Corporal Tracey Knight of the Fort Worth Police Department told 8News that Aguilar surrendered without incident to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at his Richmond home, at about 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.

The warrants out of Fort Worth, Texas charge Pastor G with aggravated sexual assault of a minor under 14 years old. Corporal Tracey Knight wrote,

"Due to the age of the victims at the time of the offense, this is an "Aggravated" charge. Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 14 is a 1st degree felony in the State of Texas and is punishable by 5-99 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000."

Aguilar is being held without bond at the Richmond City Jail. He will have a video arraignment Wednesday morning at Manchester Courthouse.

Commonwealth Attorney Michael Herring told 8News that being held without bond is typical for serious out-of-state charges.

A second pastor at the ROC is also in trouble with the law. 8News has confirmed ROC executive pastor and former Henrico County Police officer Jason Helmlinger was charged and arrested for making threats against an 8News source in our on-going investigation.

Helmlinger is charged with making a threatening and obscene phone call to Pastor Allen Caldwell after Caldwell gave 8News an interview. Caldwell told 8News reporter Kerri O'Brien he left the ROC after witnessing alleged inappropriate behavior between Pastor G and some church wives.

Caldwell says soon after his interview, Helmlinger called him and yelled profanities and threatened to do bodily harm to Caldwell, who called police to report the incident.

Helmlinger's charge is a misdemeanor.

Several women came forward to 8News with allegations of abuse by The ROC Church pastor Geronimo Aguilar, who is accused of having sex with minors in Texas.

Amber Baker is the fourth woman to claim to 8News she had sex with Pastor Geronimo Aguilar when she was a teenager.

"We had sex," Baker told us simply.

She went on to tell us that she was just five years old when she began attending Pastor G and his father's ministries. She would go on to work for The ROC Church here in Richmond, and marry Pastor G's brother-in-law.

But before her work in the church began, she alleges that she got very close to her Pastor.

"He would talk to me online, we started talking all the time."

She claims one night when Aguilar's wife was out of town, he took her, her 16-year-old sister and two other young women to a timeshare in Williamsburg where her relationship with her pastor quickly changed.

"He brought us alcohol, we got drunk and the rest is history," Baker said. "I had just turned 18. We had sex."

Although Baker says she knows she was an adult, the relationship was inappropriate because Aguilar was her pastor.

"It was wrong. Just because it is not illegal doesn't mean it is not wrong and he was my pastor I moved to Richmond to serve God."

She also claims she is not the only one who has had a relationship with Aguilar.

"My mother, my aunt and myself have all been involved with him sexually."

She continued, "In 2010 when he asked my husband and I to return to work there, he confessed to a relationship with an underage girl."

Baker also says she knows the alleged victims in Texas very well, and believes the allegations of sexual misconduct they have lobbied against Pastor G.

Several months ago, Baker left the church. She told us she is breaking her silence now because she knows there are others.

"I am speaking out for so many of you who I know personally, who you have confessed to me or I have known and just not told you. I will not stop speaking out until he can no longer hurt women."

Meanwhile, many ROC Church members continue to stand by their pastor while he is under investigation, posting messages of support on Facebook like "Pastor G Rocks."

Church members also held a bike run in solidarity with Pastor G two weeks ago.

On May 15, Pastor G's attorney David Carlson told 8News he has no knowledge of any wrongdoing. He added that he has quizzed his client thoroughly and that Pastor G maintains he is innocent.

Stay with 8News for updates.