This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An Oregon pastor was charged this week with sexting and touching a 15-year-old South Salt Lake girl.
Leonel Rocha-Pereda, 66, of Salem, Ore., was charged this week in 3rd District Court with second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse and three counts of class A misdemeanor sexual abuse of a minor.
The girl told police that she met the defendant in July at a Christian youth camp where he was the pastor.
Rocha-Pereda had been e-mailing the girl since then and, in mid-September, made a trip to Salt Lake City to start a new church, according to a police news release.
The girl's family knew Rocha-Pereda from when they used to live in Oregon and invited him to stay at their South Salt Lake home, according to police spokesman Gary Keller.
While at the home, Rocha-Pereda touched the girl's breasts and genitals, and also touched her breasts while on a shopping trip at a local mall, according to charges.
The girl said she also exchanged text messages of a sexual nature with Rocha-Pereda during September, according to charges.
Police have said that Rocha-Pereda bought the girl a cell phone and told her not to tell her parents about it.
Rocha-Pereda, who was returning to Salt Lake City last week when police intercepted and arrested him, remained at the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday in lieu of $75,000 bail.
No court dates had been immediately set.