Liberty County pastor arrested on
child sex abuse charges
George Finney, senior pastor of New Life Kenefick Church, was arrested Monday
Pastor accused of sexual abuse of at least 4 kids in Monterey County held on $17.5M bail
Salinas, Ca - A Central Coast pastor is in custody on $17.5 million bail after being arrested for allegedly sexually molesting several children in Monterey County.
The man has been identified as Emmanuel Marchica, 51, a pastor who lives in the gated community of Hidden Valley outside Hollister. Detectives say he sexually molested at least four children.
“Everybody is there for each other, so to hear that he lives in this community is very disturbing — very, very disturbing — because you just don't ever know who your next-door neighbor is,” said Diana Vasquez.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the alleged crimes, says Marchica lives in the gated community and served as a local pastor.
“He was offering these religious services at a community gathering center within that gated community,” said department spokesman Andres Rosas.
Investigators say one of the alleged sexual assaults happened back in 2012, when Marchica was a jiu-jitsu instructor and was also offering physical therapy and massage therapy.
“I can also tell you that it was during one of the times that Mr. Marchica was performing the services of physical therapy and massage therapy that we had one of our victims come forward, stating that she was a victim,” Rosas said.
Investigators say that before becoming a pastor, Marchica operated several businesses that exposed him to children and possibly more victims, including bakeries in Monterey and Prunedale, along with gyms in Prunedale, Sand City and Seaside.
“Sadly, those are the ones that shock you because they're out there in the community working with children, and you think they're protecting our children, when in fact, you come to find out that they're not — they're hurting them. And I hope justice comes to those families. I can't even imagine what they're going through,” Vasquez said.
Emmanuel Marchica remains in custody at the Monterey County Jail, booked on multiple felony child sex crime charges.
More importantly, if anyone believes they are a victim of Marchica or has information about him, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office would like to hear from you.
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