Church Volunteer Accused of Child Sex Abuse

WBAL
June 9, 2017

http://www.wbaltv.com/article/church-volunteer-accused-of-child-sex-abuse/10000953

Anne Arundel County police said a church chaperone and Bible study instructor has admitted to investigators that he sexually abused an 11-year-old boy.

Erick Ernesto Granados-Zeledon, 39, of Edgewater, is charged with second-degree sex offense, second-degree child abuse, third-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense, sexual abuse of a minor, sodomy and second-degree assault.

Police said detectives interviewed the boy and learned that Granados-Zeledon was a volunteer at the Iglesia Hispanic Emmanuel Church in Annapolis. Police said Granados-Zeledon exploited his work as a volunteer and mentor at the church to gain the family's trust.

"These are allegations that were brought to us last month. Our Child Abuse Unit began an investigation," Anne Arundel County police Lt. Ryan Frashure said.

According to charging documents, the victim's mother told police that Granados-Zeledon knew the family from church and cared for the boy on several occasions. The charging documents state that Granados-Zeledon would take the boy from their residence to church, out to eat and occasionally to his house in Edgewater.

Investigators said Granados-Zeledon admitted to sexually abusing the boy at his Edgewater house.

"The suspect is someone who certainly gained the family and the juvenile's trust through the church and through the relationship they had at the church, so it's very unfortunate that he violated that trust," Frashure said.

The church has been cooperating with law enforcement in regards to the investigation, police said.

Police said Granados-Zeledon is no longer a volunteer at the church and had no affiliation with its private school or day care.

"We are certainly encouraging anyone who goes to that church to please come forward if they recognize this individual as having any type of inappropriate contact with them or their children. It's very important for us to make sure there are no other victims out there and investigate if there are," Frashure said.

Police said detectives don't have any evidence that leads them to believe there are additional victims.

If convicted, Granados-Zeledon could face 91 years in jail.

Any potential victims or anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at 410-222-4733, the anonymous tip line at 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP.