A Hesperia foster father, who also served as a pastor, has been locked up on charges of horrific ongoing sexual abuse against two minor children, with cops fearing that this may just be the tip of the iceberg. 54-year-old Jose Manuel Lozano was apprehended following a probe into abuse allegations that came to light in the city famed for its Mojave Desert setting, according to the SBSD - Hesperia Police Department.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Office said Thursday that Lozano has been hit with multiple counts of felony sexual abuse involving a 10-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl, plunging the community into a state of alarm, as per the SBSD - Hesperia Police Department. The man, who was supposed to be a pillar of support and spirituality, instead allegedly exploited his position of trust to grievously harm these vulnerable individuals. Detectives are now urgently beckoning anyone with potential ties to the case to come forward.
In a bid to meticulously track down any other possible victims, authorities have released Lozano's photo to the public. The bail for the accused has been set staggeringly high—at $5 million—a figure that underscores the severity of the charges laid against him.
Anyone with information regarding this incident, or who has been victimized by Lozano, is encouraged to contact Deputy Frankie Zavala of the Hesperia Police Station, Detective Bureau at (760) 947-1500. To remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
