Solano County pastor arrested on 19 sexual abuse counts

FAIRFIELD (CA)
The Reporter

By Catherine Bowen/ CBowen@TheReporter.comthereporter.com
Posted: 06/30/2012

A well-known pastor at a Fairfield church was arrested Thursday night amid molestation allegations spanning as far back as 1994, police announced Friday.

The Rev. Robert “Silas” Ruark of Suisun City was taken into custody around 9:45 p.m., after Fairfield police officers served an arrest warrant at his home in the 1400 block of Spence Court, authorities reported.

Six alleged victims of the 65-year-old priest, known by many at St. Timothy Orthodox Church as “Father Silas,” have come forward. However, Fairfield Lt. Greg Hurlbut said police fear there could be others.

The investigation into Ruark began after members of the diocese contacted the Fairfield Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit when they learned of the alleged molestations, authorities said. The diocese provided police with the names of those believed to have been molested by Ruark.

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