Authorities in Ohio are offering $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of a youth pastor, who’s evaded arrest since being charged with sexually abusing minors.
The pastor, Jario Isidro Thomas Sanchez, 38, of Forest Park, was indicted last Wednesday by a grand jury in Hamilton County, Ohio, on 14 counts of sexual abuse of minors, according to multiple reports. Sanchez is facing four felony charges, including three counts of gross sexual imposition and one count of abduction; and 10 misdemeanor charges, including four counts of unlawful restraint and six counts of sexual imposition.
Sanchez, who was in the country illegally, has not been seen since last December. According to a statement from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, “Indications are that he fled the area, and possibly the country, shortly after the crimes were first reported.”
In a press conference Friday, Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said, “The five victims range from ages 10 to 13, (and) I assume there are more victims.”
According to reports, Sanchez molested the young girls between August 2010 and June 2021. “These crimes occurred at Mr. Sanchez’s former residence in Lemon Township and at churches that he was affiliated with in Butler County and Hamilton County,” the official statement continued.
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A police report cited by WCPO reportedly stated that parents of the victims referred to Sanchez as a pastor at the church they attended. Over a span of 10 years, Sanchez had been affiliated with a Hispanic congregation that met at Cincinnati Church of God of Prophecy, and two other area churches, according to local TV station WKRC.
“Our first concern is for the welfare of any children,” stated Edwin Wilson, pastor of Cincinnati Church of God of Prophecy. He added that his church rented its space to the independent Hispanic church where Sanchez was a leader.
A spokesperson for the Hispanic congregation confirmed to WKRC that Sanchez had been a youth leader in the church, but he was “never alone with an individual in the church premises” according to what they knew.
The alleged victims have not been in contact with leaders of the Hispanic church, according to the spokesperson, who asked to remain anonymous. “They never told us,” she stated to WKRC. “Obviously, if they would have spoken up, we would have t(aken) action.”
Media have attempted contacts with the other two churches where Sanchez was allegedly involved, but the churches did not have public contact information available.
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
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7 Responses
Am I the only person who thinks that it may not be a good idea for churches to have a pastor, youth or otherwise, who is in the US illegally?
No, you are not the only one. It’s hard to know exactly what happened there but, it does not look like he was thoroughly vetted.
I thought the exact same thing. Why a reward being offered now? He’s been missing for almost 10 months.
This is the first I’ve heard of a pastor who is here illegally who abused minors. On the other hand we have multiple accounts of legal citizen pastors posted here day after day after day.
So not sure why that is the takeaway here.
It’s a takeaway because we have someone in the country illegally who we know nothing about working in ministry. We can’t vet this person because he has no record here and maybe nothing from his home country. Now we can’t find him. When I worked in the Booking section of a medium-sized jail, we were always getting in people like that who had as many as several dozen aliases used to evade authorities. Do you want someone who hasn’t and maybe can’t be vetted working in ministry? Please explain to the victims how that’s ok.
If he’s got more than one brain cell, he’s been out of the country since things first went down. Probably wherever he came from (don’t know about Ohio, but where I am in Del Norte it’s usually Mexico or Central America).
This is a deeply troubling and disturbing situation that demands our attention and immediate action. The allegations against Jario Isidro Thomas Sanchez are both shocking and heart-wrenching. It’s disheartening to hear that a youth pastor, someone who should be a source of trust and guidance, is facing such grave charges.
The fact that Sanchez has been on the run since last December, coupled with the possibility that he may have fled the country, only adds to the urgency of this matter. The $5,000 reward offered by Ohio authorities reflects their commitment to bringing him to justice and ensuring the safety of the community.
The most concerning aspect of this case is the young age of the victims, ranging from 10 to 13 years old. It is distressing to think that they may have suffered for years in silence. It is essential that law enforcement continues to investigate thoroughly to uncover any additional victims who may be out there.
Our thoughts and support go out to the survivors and their families. Cases like these highlight the critical need for vigilance and transparency within religious organizations, ensuring that the safety and well-being of children are prioritized above all else. We can only hope that justice will be served swiftly in this case and that it serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of our society.