FREEPORT, Texas – A Sunday school teacher is accused of sexually assaulting at least one girl at his church, and investigators think there could be more victims.
Juan Miguel Mendoza, 35, was charged with sexual assault of a child.
"It is our belief that this man used his position as a Sunday school teacher to prey on these young ladies," said Capt. Raymond Garivey, with the Freeport Police Department.
Investigators with the Freeport Police Department began an investigation into sexual misconduct after the parent of a 15-year-old girl reported the inappropriate relationship to authorities on Feb. 17.
The victim, who is now 17 years old, gave a statement that she began a sexual relationship with Mendoza when she was 15. The girl said she met Mendoza when he was her Sunday school teacher at Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel Church, located at 1521 Laffitte St.
The girl said the first time she and Mendoza had sex was in a storage room at the church, and they continued carrying on a sexual relationship up until the date that she met with investigators.
"It started with friendly text messages regarding issues at the church, then that led into flirting, which led into sexual intercourse," said Garivey.
Cellphone records show that Mendoza had been texting the victim since she was 13 years old. There are also text messages that support the victim's claims that she had been having sex with Mendoza, according to police.
The Brazoria County District Attorney's Office accepted charges against Mendoza and he was picked up Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
Mendoza was booked into the Freeport City Jail, where he is awaiting transport to the Brazoria County Sheriff's Department Jail. His bond was set at $100,000.
A church member at Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel told KPRC 2 he has met Mendoza and does not believe the allegations against the Sunday school teacher are true.
Police are also investigating a second case of sexual assault involving Mendoza at the church. In that case, the victim, who is now 20 years old, alleges that she and Mendoza have been having a sexual relationship since she was 16 years old. She too met Mendoza when he was her Sunday school teacher at Iglesias Bautista Emanuel. That case is still being investigated by the Freeport Police Criminal Investigation Division.
"The pastor was interviewed and he denied knowing anything about them having a sexual relationship. He was aware that they had been text messaging each other and he said he did speak with the victim, as well as the suspect, and he had counseled them and to his opinion, he believed that it had stopped," said Garivey.
Investigators think there are other victims. They are asking that anyone with information regarding Mendoza to please call the Freeport Police Department at 979-239-1211.