Jonathan Tsai, an American Chinese pastor at a church in Hacienda Heights in greater Los Angeles, has been arrested on suspicion of molesting and sexually assaulting several minors since 2000.
According to the Los Angeles Times on Aug. 6, Jonathan Tsai, 40, was arrested at his home on July 21 after a six-month investigation that began in January 2020. Tsai was released on $1.4-million bail three days after his arrest and was scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 26.
Tsai faces four charges of lewd acts committed towar a child younger than 14, one count of oral copulation with a minor under 16, and one count of sexual penetration of a minor younger than 16, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. The incidents he’s being charged with occurred beginning in 2000.
The World Journal, a Chinese newspaper, reported that Abundant Life Ministries, the church Pastor Tsai's serves, is located at the same address as another Chinese church that is well known in the Chinese community. The World Journal reporter called the Chinese church to verify the story. The woman who answered the phone said that the two churches are not related or affiliated, and Abundant Life Ministries usually just borrows their venue every week.
However, Los Angeles netizens dug up Tsai's name and contact information on the official page of Home of Christians Eastern Los Angeles. As the investigation deepens, the number of Tsai’s accusers has grown, police said. One woman told authorities that Tsai repeatedly assaulted her between the ages of 12 to 18. He was her youth pastor at the time. Three other women also reported similar sexual assaults by Tsai when they were minors. Investigators said more victims might be involved, so they made the phone number used to report the crime public.
---Translated by Sophia Chen
