Pastor Accused of Molesting Underaged Chinese Girl Pleads NOT Guilty
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![Carl Samson](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CARLSAMSON_NEXTSHARK.jpg?width=128&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
By Carl Samson
The American pastor accused of
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Douglas Rivera, pastor of God’s Gypsy Christian Church in Glendale, California, allegedly lurked outside Vanllee Hotel and Suites in Covina on February 7 and masturbated in his truck while watching two young girls inside a room.
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Rivera, 40, then coerced his way into the room and touched one of them inappropriately, according to police.
The girls, aged 10 and 12 at the time, were visiting from China on a field trip and assumed he was their chaperone.
![](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2-45.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
The suspect, who fled the scene in his truck, was previously out on a $280,000 bail but is back in jail this week.
He was charged with three counts: lewd act upon a child, first-degree burglary and indecent exposure, according to ABC 7.
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Rivera pleaded not guilty before a Pomona court on Wednesday, claiming innocence as he did while he was being hunted. He turned himself in on February 11.
“I did…nothing wrong. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said in an Instagram video.
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If proven guilty, Rivera could face up to 15 years in prison and be registered as a sex offender for life. His bail was increased to $1,160,000.
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