O.C. pastor faces trial in alleged sex abuse of five boys

A trial was set to begin Tuesday for an Orange County pastor accused of sexually assaulting five boys who were parishioners at his Laguna Hills church.

Oscar D. Perez, 69, is accused of assaulting the boys, who were 9 to 15 years old at the time, between 2007 and 2011, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

Opening arguments are expected to begin Tuesday in a Santa Ana courtroom.

Perez reportedly was an Apostolic pastor at Iglesia Antigua, a church that rented space at St. George’s Episcopalian Church. He allegedly met the victims there and had them assist with church services.

Perez was arrested last September and charged with molesting two boys at his Lake Forest apartment; subsequent investigations led to additional charges filed against him in January.

If convicted, he faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.

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-- Larry Gordon