Local Minister Arrested On Child Molestation Charges

KERO TV, California/June 20, 2006

Bakersfield -- A local minister was taken to jail on charges he sexually molested a child.

Froilan Esparza Sanchez, a minister for New Life Apolistic Church on Hughes Lane, was arrested on felony charges of sexually molesting a child under the age of 14.

Sanchez, who is nearly 80 years old, is facing five counts of lewd and lascivious acts, one count of sexual penetration with a foreign object, and four counts of oral copulation with a child.

He declined a requested for an interview Monday night.

Sanchez is one of numerous ministers listed on the Web site of the New Life Church.

Two members of the church said they had no comment about the arrest or Sanchez.

There is no word where the alleged sexual abuse took place or if the alleged victim was a member of the church.

Sanchez is being held on $700,000 bail.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in Superior.