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SOUTH SALT LAKE — An Oregon pastor accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl while staying in her family's home now faces felony charges.
Leonel Rocha-Pereda, 66, was charged in 3rd District Court on Wednesday with forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, and three counts of sexual abuse of a minor, all class A misdemeanors.
Rocha-Pereda, a pastor from Salem, Oregon, met the 15-year-old girl at a Christian youth camp in July, charges state. He reportedly began exchanging emails with the girl that same month and came to stay with her family in September when he traveled to Utah to establish a new church in the Salt Lake area, according to police.
Rocha-Pereda reportedly gave the girl a cellphone, which he instructed her not to tell her parents about, to exchange sexually explicit messages and photos, police said. He is accused of touching the girl inappropriately in her home and while the two were shopping.
Rocha-Pereda was arrested earlier this month when the girl's parents notified police. He is currently in Salt Lake County Jail with bail set at $131,000.
