Accused pastor surrenders
The man is suspected of sexually assaulting a minor in a hotel room in Covina, police say.
A Glendale pastor suspected of sexually assaulting a minor in a Covina hotel room surrendered to authorities Sunday morning after days of hiding.
Douglas Rivera of Baldwin Park and his attorney showed up at the Covina Police Department about 11 a.m. and Rivera turned himself in, Sgt. Ray Marquez said. Rivera was arrested and booked on multiple charges, including sexual assault, indecent exposure and burglary with intent to commit a crime, Marquez said.
Rivera’s bail is set at $280,000.
On Friday, Rivera posted a video on Instagram in which he addressed the camera, denied the allegations against him and said he planned to surrender to authorities next week, according to KTLA news.
“I did not do nothing wrong. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Rivera says in the video. “Something happened in that hotel and that’s the simple answer.”
Rivera, 40, is suspected of driving to the Vanllee Hotel and Suites in Covina just after 8 p.m. Wednesday, where he spotted a lit room with its drapes open and spied on two minors who were inside, police said. Rivera proceeded to masturbate in his vehicle as he watched the minors, police said.
He then got out of his car and stood outside the hotel room window, where he pretended to be on his phone, police said. After 30 minutes, Rivera went inside the hotel and forced his way into the room where the minors were staying, police said.
Covina police said the minors, reported by KTLA to be part of a tourist group from China, opened the door for him thinking it was their chaperone. He assaulted one of the minors and then fled in his car, authorities said.
Rivera is listed as a pastor of God’s Gypsy Christian Church, which worships out of Glendale City Church.
On Friday evening, Glendale City Church released a statement on Facebook distancing itself from Rivera. It said its relationship to God’s Gypsy Christian Church was “simply lessor to lessee.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, with the RYMM congregation, with law enforcement and with Rev. Rivera,” said the statement, referring to “Renewing Your Mind Ministries,” words on the God’s Gypsy Christian Church’s website. “We pray for justice and healing to win the day.”