Second former Wildomar youth pastor faces child molest charges – arrested in PA

WILDOMAR — A second person formerly connected with a Wildomar church has been charged with molesting at least one child, after another person from the same church was charged – and recently pleaded guilty – to similar charges involving numerous victims over a nearly 20-year span. Both men were youth pastors at Faith Baptist Church’s affiliated school in Wildomar.

Authorities began investigating former youth pastor Paul Fox Laverne, aka: Laverne Paul Fox, 60 – who also served as the school’s principal – last June, according to sheriff’s officials. His name came up while officials were investigating allegations against another youth pastor at the same independent fundamental Baptist church and school, Malo “Victor” Monteiro.

Laverne was eventually tracked down to Erie, Pennsylvania; where he was arrested by State Police July 1. He has since been extradited back to California and now faces multiple felony charges related to the ongoing investigation.

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Sheriff’s officials began investigating accusations against members of the church in June, 2018, after receiving reports that youth pastor Monteiro sexually assaulted “several victims” when they were children. The alleged molestations happened between the years of 1999 and 2017, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Glenn Warrington has since reported.

That investigation ultimately led to Monteiro’s arrest and conviction, after he pleaded guilty Nov. 13, to four counts of lewd acts on a child of 14-15 years of age, two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object, and one count of attempted copulation of a minor, all felonies. He was later sentenced to five years and four months in prison.

During that “months-long” investigation, officials learned of a second former youth pastor and principal at the same church affiliated school had possibly victimized a young girl between the years of 1991 and 1992, Warrington explained.

Former youth pastor and school principle, Paul Fox Laverne, aka: Laverne Paul Fox, 60, was tracked down to Erie, PA, where he was arrested on multiple felony charges involving molesting a girl. Former youth pastor Malo “Victor” Monteiro was previously charged in the same investigation and pleaded guilty last November to multiple felony charges involving several young victims. Monteiro was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.

Based on their investigation, Riverside Sheriff’s authorities began searching for Laverne, eventually tracking him to Pennsylvania, where he was arrested July 1.

He was eventually extradited back to California Monday, July 29, and was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on several felony charges related to sexual assault on children. His charges include lewd acts with a child younger than 14 with force or fear, sexual penetration of a minor, and oral copulation with a juvenile.

SEE RELATED: WILDOMAR: Youth pastor charged with molesting children over 18 year span

Jail records indicate Laverne was released from custody the day after he was booked into jail, after posting $120,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center, Oct. 2.

Based on the circumstances, officials believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward or been identified.

Anyone with information about this ongoing investigation or who believes they were victimized by Laverne or Monteiro is encouraged to immediately contact Investigator Klemp at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number WI182280035 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he currently writes for or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, the (now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.