A central Florida pastor accused of sexually abusing two girls told one of the victims, “We are a couple,” as he unzipped his pants, the Miami Herald reported.

Yersson Solarte, 33, was arrested on May 7 by Virginia police and charged with sexual battery of a minor and lewd and lascivious molestation, according to a Sanford, Florida, Police Department Facebook post.

“People like this are a special class of criminal, who use their position of trust to prey on innocent victims,” said Sanford Police Chief Cecil Herrero.

“Solarte is now behind bars where he belongs,” Smith added.

The Sanford police learned in April of alleged crimes by Solarte, victimizing two girls, which prompted the agency to launch an investigation.

The investigation showed he inappropriately touched both teens and sexually assaulted the girls at the Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Latino Americana (IPUL Pentecostal Church), the congregation in central Florida where Solarte was pastor.  

One juvenile told police Solarte made her sit on his lap and sexually assaulted her at the church office and the church’s multimedia room, the Miami Herald reported.

Solarte is accused of abusing the second juvenile on multiple occasions as well, the news agency reported.

Solarte “expressed his love for her but when she refused his advances, he tried to make her jealous by hugging and complimenting her sister,” the Herald said. Solarte would then grab the juvenile’s face to kiss her.  The pastor is also accused of sexually abusing the juvenile in his office.

The Miami Herald reported the arrest affidavit stated another assault took place during a “juvenile meeting,” with Solarte saying, “we only live once.”

Solarte is accused of sexually assaulting both girls on April 7, the news agency reported.

According to the Sanford Facebook post, the girls were members of the church, and Solarte has since been removed from his position.

Solarte’s name remains on the church’s website and a message asking for the church to return a telephone call was left on the church’s answering machine in English. It appears he is a married father with three children.

The arrest by the Prince William (Va.) County Police Department and the Sanford police was a cooperative effort after Sanford police learned Solarte was on a family trip in Virginia, the Facebook post states.

Este artículo ha sido actualizado.

Sheila Stogsdill is a freelance print journalist and digital reporter, primarily covering crime issues for KSN/KODE.