James Ray Guerrero, "Pastor" Who Molested 2 Boys, Gets 15 to Life Over Prosecutor Objections

Orange County Weekly/February 20, 2014

By Matt Coker

A self-appointed pastor who held "church" services and Bible studies in his Westminster home was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for sexually assaulting two male relatives beginning when they were 12.

But the Orange County District Attorney's office objected to the sentence Superior Court Judge Michael Beecher gave 54-year-old James Ray Guerrero, arguing for a term of 120 years to life in prison, or three years less than the maximum allowed under state law.

An OCDA statement that detailed the objection also revealed victim impact statements written by a mother and grandmother of the victims were read to Beecher today, describing "the violation of trust and robbing of the victims' innocence."

Guerrero repeatedly assaulted the boys sexually after they were brought to church services or Bible studies in his home, which attracted as many as 40 congregants. He masturbated the boys, showed them porn and attempted sodomy on one.

The "pastor" warned both boys not to tell anyone what had happened, but one informed family members after reaching age 15. That led to a Westminster Police Department investigation that produced the second boy.

A jury on Nov. 27, 2013, found Guerrero guilty of eight felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of distributing pornography to a minor, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on more than one child.

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