Pastor charged with sexually abusing young girl
By Stacia Glenn
Posted: 02/03/2010 05:18:21 PM PST
A pastor with congregations in Big Bear City and Glendale has been charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl and investigators say there could be other victims.
Martin Richter, 48, is charged with lewd acts with a child and two counts of attempted lewd acts with a child, according to a criminal complaint filed in San Bernardino Superior Court.
Sheriff's detectives arrested Richter Saturday at his Big Bear City home. He is being held at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on $350,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 16.
Tiffany Swantek, a sheriff's spokeswoman, declined to say whether the victim was associated with Richter through a church.
Richter reportedly retired as a pastor in late 2008, about the same time the abuse is alleged to have happened.
Anyone with information or potential victims are asked to call Detectives Craig Harris and Laura Marks at 909-866-0100.
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