Moreno Valley Pastor Arrested on Charges of Child Sexual Abuse
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Moreno Valley pastor on charges of child sexual abuse. The pastor, 78-year-old David Helbling, is accused of multiple felony counts involving the abuse of a child under the age of 10. The pastor is affiliated with a local church, and investigators believe there could be additional young victims. He is being held in custody on a $2 million bond.
When children are victimized by child sexual assault, an attorney should be consulted. Our California child sex abuse attorney at Beck Law P.C., can advise you on your options for recovering financial compensation for the harm that was endured.
Investigation and Arrest – Charges of Child Sexual Abuse
The investigation began when the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Office received a report of sexual assault of a child. The victim is a child under the age of 10. The report prompted an investigation. Riverside County Sheriff’s Department determined that the alleged perpetrator was David Helbling, the pastor of a church located in the community. The church where the man is a pastor is the Blessing Center First Assembly of God, located in Moreno Valley. The Assemblies of God has more than 13,000 churches in the United States, and it has more than 69 million members worldwide.
Charges Filed Against Helbling
Helbling was arraigned, and charges were announced. He is charged with multiple counts of child sexual abuse and more crimes, including abduction of a minor, oral copulation of a child under the age of 10, forcible lewd acts on a child, perpetrating three or more sexual acts on a minor, and bodily injury during a sexual assault. The charges are felonies. Bodily injury during sexual assault would enhance the sentence if found guilty. Helbling appeared in court and entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
In this case, the child was possibly the victim of abuse on more than one occasion. The child either reported the abuse or it was discovered by a parent or other adult. The child endured some physical injuries during the abuse. In addition to physical injuries, young victims of sexual abuse often suffer years of emotional trauma caused by the event. Helbling will now face a trial for the charges and will likely be detained unless he is able to post bail.
Are There Additional Child Sexual Abuse Victims?
As with any child sexual abuse case, there are often multiple victims, sometimes over many years. The pastor was a trusted member of the church and likely was able to gain the trust of young children under his care. It is unclear how long Helbling was a pastor at the church. Law enforcement believes that there could be additional victims. Victims should come forward, even if the abuse occurred years ago. In this case, the church did not provide a statement. Victims or anyone with information is asked to call the police.
If you or a loved one is the victim of child sexual abuse, do not delay. You may be owed money for your damages from the person and/or institution that caused the abuse. Our team of knowledgeable attorneys will meet with you to discuss the details of your abuse and help you take appropriate action. Call our California child sexual abuse lawyer today at Beck Law at (707) 576-7175 to request a private consultation.
