A former Fort Collins youth pastor, Hipolito Gomez-Perdomo, 65, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple children over several decades. The arrest, which took place in March, came after Gomez-Perdomo was charged with one count of sexual assault on a child and five counts of sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust. Authorities believe there may be additional victims yet to come forward.
The investigation began in early 2023 when the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a sexual assault involving Gomez-Perdomo. The victim, a teenager, identified the suspect in relation to an assault that occurred when she was a young child in the early 2000s. Fear of repercussions prevented her from reporting the incident at the time, but she decided to come forward after learning about other teenagers who had experienced similar abuse by Gomez-Perdomo.
Further investigation revealed a dismissed sexual assault case from 2019 involving Gomez-Perdomo and a different victim. The sheriff’s office reopened the 2019 case in conjunction with the new allegations. During the course of the investigation, another victim came forward, stating that Gomez-Perdomo had sexually assaulted her in the late 1990s when she was a young child. The victim’s family had known Gomez-Perdomo through their church, and he was considered a trusted family friend.
Gomez-Perdomo had served as a youth pastor at Vida Abundante church in north Fort Collins. However, he left the congregation following the sexual assault allegations in 2019. Prior to residing in Fort Collins, he had lived in Fort Morgan and Houston, Texas.
Authorities suspect that there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Investigator Travis Fischer at 970-498-5585. Those who wish to remain anonymous can reach out to Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868.
1 Response
As a parent, this news is absolutely heartbreaking and infuriating. It’s devastating to think that someone who was supposed to be a trusted figure in the community, like a youth pastor, could betray that trust and harm innocent children.
I remember when my daughter was involved in a youth group at our local church. We were so grateful for the positive influence the youth pastor had on her life. He was always there to offer guidance, support, and encouragement. It’s difficult to fathom that there are