A Hesperia pastor, Jose Manuel Lozano, is currently in police custody after being accused of sexually abusing two minors under his care as a foster parent. The alleged victims, aged 16 and 10, were reportedly part of his congregation at Zion Assembly Church of God Hesperia, an affiliate of Zion Assembly Church of God International based in Tennessee. Lozano, a 54-year-old resident of Hesperia, led bilingual services for a predominantly Latino and Spanish-speaking congregation.
The allegations against Lozano came to light on March 15, leading to his immediate removal from office by the Zion Assembly Church of God International. He was subsequently arrested last week and is currently awaiting trial at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto, with bail set at $5 million.
The news of Lozano’s arrest has shocked and dismayed pastors at neighboring churches. Tom Beasley, pastor at Hesperia Community Church, expressed his concern for the protection of children and emphasized the importance of due diligence in his role as a pastor. Lewis Busch, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church and School, expressed profound sadness and worries about the potential impact on ministry work and the reputation of clergy.
In Lozano’s absence, Zion Assembly Church of God Hesperia is being led by interim pastor Henry Rodriguez. However, Rodriguez did not respond to requests for comment, and the church’s social media pages have been taken down.
Since 2018, Lozano’s congregation had been renting space from Sovereign Way Christian Church, according to Pastor Stephen Feinstein. He described Zion Assembly Church of God Hesperia as a good tenant that communicated well. Feinstein expressed shock at the news and mentioned that the church’s campus has security cameras, although law enforcement has not requested any video footage.
Local authorities suspect that Lozano may have targeted additional victims and are urging anyone with information to contact San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Frankie Zavala at the Hesperia station or call the anonymous tip line.
1 Response
It is truly disheartening to hear about cases like this, where individuals in positions of trust and authority abuse their power. To prevent such incidents from happening in the future, it is crucial to implement stricter screening processes for foster parents.
One potential solution could be to establish a comprehensive background check system that includes thorough interviews, reference checks, and psychological evaluations. This would help identify any red flags or potential risks before placing children in the care of foster parents. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and support should be provided