A Phoenix pastor has been arrested and accused of child molestation, and police say some of the victims are members of his church.
Court records show that 49-year-old Jose Vicente Morales had been molesting children for years; he impregnated one of the victims when she was 13 years of age.
In the ongoing investigation, police report Morales may have molested or sexually assaulted at least five victims who were either church members or known to Morales outside of the church setting.
Police began their investigation after a mother of a victim noticed her daughter had been injuring herself as a result of the sexual abuse Morales allegedly did to her five years prior.
One 18-year-old church member came forward and reported that Morales lured her and then sexually assaulted her in a home.
Another victim accused Morales of molesting her from ages 7 to 12, she said she was molested once while in a pool as she was swimming with the man.
Police report that when Morales came to Arizona in 1986 at age 19, he dated an 8-year-old girl and married her in Mexico when she was 10. After returning to Arizona, he impregnated her when she was just 13.
Police say Iglesia Impacto De Fe near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road is a small congregation, and none of the assaults happened on church property.
Morales was arrested on September 9th at his home near 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Although the investigation continues, he is facing charges of sexual abuse, child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor.
ABC15 went to the church, which was closed. We also called the church phone number, which went straight to voicemail.
