Pinole Man Arrested On Child Molestation Charges After 2-Month Investigation

CALIFORNIA
CBS SF Bay Area

PINOLE (CBS SF) — After a two-month investigation, sheriff’s officials have arrested a Pinole resident on suspicion of child molestation, sheriff’s officials announced Friday.

On Dec. 10 Gabriel Lopez, 34, was arrested and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office has filed six felony counts of child molestation against him, according to sheriff’s officials.

The investigation began in September when two juvenile females reported that Lopez has molested them. Both girls participated in the Student Ministry at Valley Bible Church, located at 1477 Willow Ave. in Hercules, and were also students at a John Swett Unified School District school, according to sheriff’s officials.

Lopez had worked as an “at will” employee at the Valley Bible Church as a youth pastor from July 2011 to March 2015. Lopez also worked as a “walk on” volunteer football coach at John Swett High School, located at 1098 Pomona Street in Crockett, sheriff’s officials said.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.