Salem pastor accused of raping girl held on $2M bail

By Whitney M. Woodworth
Statesman Journal
July 07, 2016

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/crime/2016/07/07/salem-pastor-accused-raping-girl-held-2m-bail/86825704/

Mauricio Aguilera-Garcia, 55, is arraigned on 25 charges, including second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy and second-degree unlawful sexual penetration, at the Marion County Court Annex in Salem on Thursday, July 7, 2016.The former pastor at Our Father's House church in Salem was held on a $2 million bail. Photo by ANNA REED

A Marion County Circuit Court judge ruled Thursday that a Salem pastor accused of raping and sodomizing a girl he met at church be held on $2 million bail.

Mauricio Aguilera-Garcia, 55, was arrested Wednesday on 25 felony charges, including 10 counts of rape, 10 counts of sodomy and five counts of unlawful sexual penetration, after a weeklong investigation by the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Aguilera-Garcia met the girl at the Our Father's House church, where he served as a pastor. The church rents space from the Solid Rock Community Church at 3535 Ward Drive NE. According to court records, he is accused of raping the girl, who was about 13 years old at the time, between 2010 and 2012.

Aguilera-Garcia was convicted of sex abuse in 1985, but he was not listed on the sex offenders registry. Oregon's first registration laws were enacted in 1989.

He appeared in court for arraignment Thursday afternoon and spoke through a Spanish translator.

A family sat tearfully through the arraignment. They did not identify themselves as the family of the girl or the defendant, and declined to comment after Aguilera-Garcia was taken away.

Marion County Deputy District Attorney Gillian Fischer asked Judge Vance Day to take the nature of Aguilera-Garcia's crimes into account when granting him bail.

"The defendant was in a position of trust as a pastor," she said.

Day ruled he be held on $2 million bail. Aguilera-Garcia, a northeast Salem resident, was ordered to have no contact with the girl.

Second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy and second-degree unlawful sexual penetration are all Measure 11 crimes requiring mandatory minimum sentences. Each demands a mandatory sentence of six years and three months.

Aguilera-Garcia's next court appearance was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 21.

Only one victim was listed in court records, but Marion County Sheriff's detectives think more victims may exist. The sheriff's office encouraged anyone with information about Aguilera-Garcia to contact Detective Matt Hagan at 503-316-6605.