UPDATE:: O.C. Pastor Arrested Again, Charged in Molestation of 7 Children as Young as 5 Years Old: DA
John Rodgers McFarland, 56, was arrested Dec. 18 on charges stemming from the alleged abuse of at least one child, police said.After being arrested for a second time, a Fullerton man who was a longtime pastor at several churches in Southern California has been charged with 11 felonies in connection with the sex abuse of seven children, authorities announced Monday.
The charges against John Rodgers McFarland include seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14 years old, and four counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor between 14 and 15, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
,,,
The defendant was previously arrested on suspicion of child molestation in Escondido last December after a girl came forward to report the alleged abuse, according to the Fountain Valley Police Department.
During the investigation into that case, police said they uncovered “evidence that McFarland abused other victims.”
Police executed search warrants at McFarland’s home, as well as current and previous churches where he was employed as head pastor, according to Fountain Valley police, who said evidence exists he may have additional victims in Orange County.
McFarland has been the head pastor at Orangethorpe United Methodist Church in Fullerton since 2014. He was also a pastor at Surf City Church in Huntington Beach between 2009 and 2014, and served as head pastor at Fountain Valley United Methodist Church for 26 years from 1988 to 2014.
Methodist Pastor John McFarland Held in Escondido, Accused of Molesting Girl Under 14 - Times of San Diego
