Out on bail for 23 child molestation counts, East Bay minister flees during trial

By Nate Gartrell
East Bay Times
December 12, 2017

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/12/12/out-on-bail-for-23-child-molestation-counts-east-bay-minister-flees-during-trial/

Fernando Maldonado, 37, is accused of molesting a teen girl over a three-year period.

MARTINEZ — An East Bay minister who was out of jail on $1.3 million bail is a wanted man for failing to show up in court after a girl testified he sexually abused her for years.

Fernando Maldonado, 37, was on trial facing 23 counts of child molestation when he apparently fled the area, possibly to Mexico. His alleged victim, a girl who was less than 16 years old when the alleged sexual abuse occurred, testified Thursday and Friday that he sexually abused her numerous times over a three-year period, while he was a minister at two local churches.

Then, on Monday, Maldonado failed to show up to court. Judge Clare Maier issued a bench warrant for his arrest the same day, listing him as “voluntarily absent.” That means the trial will proceed without him. Closing arguments are expected to take place Wednesday.

If convicted, Maldonado could be sentenced to more than 30 years in prison, according to court records. Prosecutors on Tuesday argued that they should be able to refer to the defendant’s absence during closing arguments, and Maier seemed open to it, but has not yet issued a ruling.

The abuse began when Maldonado, a Concord resident, was a minister at Morello Avenue Baptist Church in Martinez and the victim was a parishioner there, police said.

The church has since closed. Maldonado left that church to become a minister at Grace Bible Church in Pleasant Hill in 2014, where the victim began attending the church and the abuse continued, police said. The victim came forward last year, leading authorities to file 23 felony counts against Maldonado.

One month after his April 2016 arrest, Maldonado was released on bail, after someone posted a $106,000 premium for his $1.295 million bail. It is unclear from court records who supplied the cash.

A youth leader at one of the churches who knew Maldonado, Eduardo DeJesus Trujillo, 31, was also charged with rape, child molestation, and similar sex crimes against a teen girl at the church. Police said Trujillo and Maldonado knew one another and communicated during the abuse.

Last year, Trujillo pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and was sentenced to prison for seven years.

Maldonado’s current whereabouts are unknown. Anyone who sees him is encouraged to call Martinez police at 925-372-3440 or dial 911.