Local Pastor Charged with Coercing Minor Female

CINCINNATI – The pastor of a Sharonville church has been charged federally with coercing a minor female in a criminal complaint that details interactions with two alleged victims.

Cesar Agusto Guerrero, Jr., 41, of Liberty Township, was charged federally on August 9. The criminal complaint was unsealed today following Guerrero’s initial appearance in federal court at 2:30pm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and Sharonville Police Chief Steve Vanover announced the charges.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, the Sharonville Police Department received several complaints on August 7 regarding the pastor of Mision Cristiana el Calvario Church and a minor female victim.

Guerrero allegedly contacted the 17-year-old victim through the Facebook Messenger app and told the victim he had dreamt of her dressed in white and walking in a dark place. The victim told the pastor she had been sexually molested in Guatemala.

It is alleged Guerrero told the victim that God was speaking to him and the only way to get out of the dark place was for her to have sexual relations with Guerrero. The pastor allegedly referred to this as a “cleansing process.”

The affidavit details that Guerrero requested a nude video call with the victim as well as photos of her genitalia. He cited several biblical verses while making the request.

Further, it is alleged the victim met with the pastor at the Sharonville church on July 30. At that time, the pastor allegedly said he would “free her mouth” by having the victim perform oral sex on him. The pastor also allegedly raped the victim.

On August 9, officials with the FBI and Sharonville Police received information from a second alleged victim. According to the affidavit, the second victim had been sexually assaulted by the pastor on more than one occasion, beginning when the victim was 14 years old.

Guerrero allegedly told the second victim to show him how she kissed her boyfriend before assaulting her and telling her if she was a child of God she would obey him. 

It is also alleged that Guerrero sexually assaulted this second victim on another occasion at his home.

Guerrero was arrested last week on state charges and was transferred to federal custody today.

Coercing a minor is a federal crime punishable by a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life in prison.

If you believe you are also a victim in this case, or have relevant information related to Guerrero, please contact the FBI tip line at 513-979-8822.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and Sharonville Police Department, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey, who is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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