‘Apostle’ on trial for child sex abuse

FLORIDA
Orlando Sentinel

October 29, 2012
By Amy Pavuk, Orlando Sentinel

Opening statements are slated to begin Tuesday in Orlando federal court in the case against a gangster turned self-proclaimed “Apostle,” accused of sexually abusing children he made “prophets” in his ministry.

Authorities say Luis “Tito” Morales groomed victims through En Fuego for Jesus, a ministry he and wife, Linda Morales, started out of their Ormond Beach home in 2003.

Through En Fuego, Tito Morales and Linda Morales — a self-proclaimed prophet — tried to recruit people throughout Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico and Honduras.

Tito Morales is accused of grooming a 12-year-old for sex, and told her that in order to continue in the church that she needed to “service him” as the “Apostle,” according to a transcript of a May 17 initial appearance hearing.

Morales took the child to Connecticut, and while on the trip, molested her, according to documents in the case.

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