Juan Barrios, a pastor at an Orange County church, has been arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of two boys. The 51-year-old Riverside resident is a pastor at the Iglesia de Dios Israelita in Fullerton.
According to the detectives with the Riverside Police Department’s Sexual Assault Child Abuse Unit, Barrios sexually assaulted two brothers between the years of 2009 and 2015, while their family lived in the pastor’s home. One of the boys reported the abuse in May 2024; he reported that the abuse started when he was just nine years old and continued until his mid-teens. The younger of the boys also came forward to report sexual abuse by Barrios.
According to detectives, there was a thorough investigation, which resulted in Barrios being arrested on September 8, 2024, and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center on several charges. Barrios posted $500,000 bail.
Detectives believe that there may be additional victims. They are urging possible victims or anyone with information to come forward.
If you or a member of your family was abused by Pastor Juan Barrios, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. In addition to being able to pursue criminal charges, you could have the right to file a civil lawsuit. You could also have the right to receive compensation. For more information about the legal options available to you, contact us today.
The Normandie Law Firm is fully committed to fighting for the rights of our clients and helping them secure the maximum payout available for their claims. We believe that all those responsible for the sexual abuse of children should be held accountable. You deserve justice. Contact us today to learn more about our team can help you win your case!
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Examples of the Harm Resulting from Child Sex Abuse
Victims of child sex abuse at the hands of pastors and others could experience the following harm:
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Injuries to genitals and reproductive organs
- Unwanted pregnancy and related complications
- Other physical injuries from a struggle during the abuse, including fractures, lacerations, sprains, bruises, and more
- Mental and emotional harm, including panic, fear, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, etc.
- Increased risk of self-harm
- Increased risk of substance abuse (including drug addiction and alcoholism)
It is important to note that many victims of child sex abuse may suffer from suppressed memories. They may block out memories of the abuse, and it may not resurface until years later. However, they may still experience consequences directly associated with the abuse, such as problems with authority, the inability to keep a job, and more.
Regardless of the harm that you or a member of your family suffered associated with child sex abuse, it is important that you seek legal help as soon as possible. You could have the right to file a lawsuit.
Suing for Pastor Child Sex Abuse
Can I file a lawsuit for child sex abuse at the hands of a pastor? Yes – you could have the right to sue. Generally, the right to sue is based on the failure to identify and stop the child sexual abuse, including allowing the abuse to continue to happen or covering up the abuse, for instance. In the case discussed above, the abuser is a paster, although it is unclear whether the abuse happened at the church, at the home, or both. Regardless, victims may still have the right to sue.
For more information about your right to file a child sex abuse lawsuit, contact our law firm today. Our team is ready to evaluate your claim and help you understand the legal options available.
The Compensation Available for Child Sex Abuse Claims
What compensation is available for my child sex abuse claim against a pastor and church organization? This is a very important question. Although every lawsuit for child sex abuse is different, victims could be eligible to recover compensation for some of the following: medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, treble damages, punitive damages, legal fees, etc. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our expert sex abuse lawyers are ready to fight for your right to recover the maximum payout available for your claim. It does not matter whether our experts have to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial to reach a verdict – our experts are ready to do everything necessary to secure the payout that you are owed.
The Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Abuse Claims
How long do I have to sue? All claims are subject to a statute of limitations – or a deadline to sue. In cases of child sex abuse, victims may have until the age of forty (or twenty-two years after the age of eighteen) to file their lawsuits. Victims also have a five-year discovery period, which gives victims five years from the date of discovering the harm caused by abuse to file a claim.
If claimants do not file their claims on time, they can lose their right to sue entirely. Because of this, it is essential that you seek legal help as soon as possible. Do not risk losing your right to fight for justice.
Normandie Law Firm’s Child Sex Abuse Lawyers Can Help You!
Whether you are pursuing a claim against a pastor, religious organization, or both, our legal team can help you fight for your rights and get justice. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, contact us today. Our team offers free case evaluations, which include free consultations and free second opinions. Our child sex abuse lawyers will be available to answer all your questions, address your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your claim. To schedule a free case evaluation, contact us today.
Since we offer a Zero-Fee Guarantee, our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal costs for any of our legal services. In addition, our team works on a strict contingency structure, meaning that our clients will not be responsible for paying any legal fees if their claims are unsuccessful. If you do not win, you simply will not pay anything.
Contact our team today if you are ready to get legal help and fight for your right to justice for the child sex abuse that you or a loved one suffered at the hands of a pastor.
