Skip to content 
A Santa Ana pastor has been sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting three young girls who attended his church. Carlos Ramirez Valdez, 61, was convicted of 14 counts related to child sexual abuse that took place while he was the leader of Iglesia De Dios Ebenezer Church between 2012 and 2019. After those assaults, he went on to become a pastor at another Santa Ana church, CBS News reported Friday.
“Churches should be safe sanctuaries, not hunting grounds for child molesters,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “These young girls were subjected to unimaginable abuse by someone in a position of trust. The sexual exploitation of children will never be acceptable, and predators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Prosecutors said Valdez sexually assaulted three girls between the ages of four and ten who attended masses at Iglesia De Dios Ebenezer Church. One of the girls was assaulted repeatedly over a seven-year period, beginning when she was four years old, and eventually reported the abuse to a school counselor. In 2017, Valdez also sexually abused a seven-year-old girl over an eight-month period. The third case occurred between 2014 and 2015, when the victim told the Garden Grove Police Department that he assaulted her while driving her home from church.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said Valdez’s conviction reflects the serious danger of allowing predators to operate unchecked within faith-based settings. His sentencing adds to a growing number of clergy abuse cases across California and the United States, where many survivors are now coming forward after years of silence.
Clergy sexual abuse often goes unreported for long periods due to manipulation, shame, and fear, particularly when the perpetrator holds religious authority. Nationally, church institutions continue to face lawsuits alleging that leadership ignored or covered up abuse complaints, allowing offenders continued access to children.
Under California’s Child Victims Act, survivors now have expanded opportunities to pursue civil claims against churches and institutions that failed to protect them.
Are You Or A Loved One A Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivor? Learn Your Rights.
If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse within a church or faith-based organization, you are not alone. Visit our Institutional Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide to learn your legal rights and find out how to hold religious institutions accountable for protecting predators instead of children. You may also complete the confidential, secure form below to receive a free case review.
