Church leader arrested on suspicion of drug violations in Riverside County

Anthony Martinez Garduno, a 51-year-old church leader who made headlines three months ago when he was shot during a reported burglary attempt at his church in Home Gardens, was back in the news today after he was arrested on suspicion of selling drugs from his church, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.

On Dec. 21, deputies from the Jurupa Valley Station responded to a call reporting sexual crimes committed against a child at Our Lady of Tepeyac Church, authorities said. The church is at 13462 Magnolia Ave. in the unincorporated Home Gardens area, which borders Corona.

The caller told authorities that Garduno had sexually assaulted him at the church when he was 17 years old. He also said that he knew of other sexual assaults by Garduno against boys at the church and that methamphetamine was being sold there.
 
On Tuesday, investigators executed a search warrant at the church and located “evidence indicative of Garduno selling narcotics from the church.” Investigators said they also “located evidence of possible sexual assaults having occurred at the church.”

Garduno was arrested and booked on suspicion of numerous drug violations, in addition to receiving stolen goods. He is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center.
 
In September, Garduno was wounded in a shooting during a robbery attempt outside  his church, authorities said. He was taken to a local hospital, where he recovered. At the time, he reported to police that he had encountered four juveniles when he was shot. Garduno, who calls himself a bishop, and his church are not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

-- Ruben Vives

Photo: Anthony Martinez Garduno. Credit: Riverside County Sheriff's Department

Comments

[Julian B Duron]

I have served on jury duty at least 18 times over 30 years. A question asked of me once by an attorney during jury selection was: would I believe the testimony of a Police Officer in full uniform, then asked then of a priest.
My reply was; no man is with out faults or sin and that I would believe testimony only based on facts given and would not care what they were dressed in or what profession they are in.
The naivety of the public is what puts criminals back on the streets and put the innocents in jail.
If this minister is guilty, he should pay to the full extent of the law. True Christians forgive but I doubt he will get past the GATES come judgment day.

[Tara]

Disgusting. evil. How many immigrant communities are victims of their own trusted leaders???

[cachimbon]

you guys should check his video cameras to find his supplier....

[Norman Silver]

This guy has had trouble in the past with other moral turpitude issues involving juvenile males. He is a fake and a phony. Religion is just his way of trying to legally fleece people.

[dogrob1]

HE SAYS THAT HE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BUT HIS CONDUCT IS

[celia lopez]

hey all you that complement him it aint true ass hoes i go to his church and he never did it to no one back off haters specialy the guy that said he did that put him in jail you big fat lier