Southern California Pastor Sentenced to 45 Years for Child Assaults

URGENT UPDATE: A Southern California pastor, Carlos Ramirez Valdez, has been sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting three young girls he met at church. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentencing on October 24, 2025, following Valdez’s conviction in August for horrific crimes committed between 2012 and 2019.

Valdez, aged 61 and a resident of Riverside, was arrested in 2021 after multiple victims came forward, revealing his predatory behavior. While serving as a church leader at Iglesia De Dios Ebenezer Church in Santa Ana from 2014 to 2017, Valdez exploited his position of trust to groom and molest vulnerable children.

Details of the assaults are chilling. One girl, starting at just 4 years old, was victimized over a seven-year period. Prosecutors revealed that Valdez would lure her into the church’s basement or a parked van, where the abuse would occur. The victim ultimately reported the abuse to a school counselor, leading to the investigation.

Authorities identified two additional victims in January 2020. One girl, aged 9 at the time, reported that Valdez molested her after giving her a ride home from church. Another victim, who was 7 and 8 years old during the assaults, disclosed that Valdez had repeatedly abused her in a backyard shed.

Valdez was convicted on 11 felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14 and three felony counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child aged 10 or younger. Following the sentencing, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer spoke out against the exploitation of children, stating,

“Churches should be safe sanctuaries, not hunting grounds for child molesters. These young girls were subjected to unimaginable abuse by someone in a position of trust.”

The verdict serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for vigilance in safeguarding children, especially within community institutions. Victims of abuse are encouraged to come forward, as authorities continue to investigate and prosecute such crimes with the utmost seriousness.

The community is reeling from the revelations, emphasizing the vital importance of protecting children and holding predators accountable. As more details emerge, the case underscores the critical need for awareness and preventive measures against child exploitation.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.