Prosecutors alleged in court today a third suspected victim has
stepped forward in the case against a 28-year-old accused of sex
acts with minors at the Apostolic Full Gospel Church of Christ in
Hollister, while a judge ruled to keep his bail amount at
$100,000.
Prosecutors alleged in court today a third suspected victim has stepped forward in the case against a 28-year-old accused of sex acts with minors at the Apostolic Full Gospel Church of Christ in Hollister, while a judge ruled to keep his bail amount at $100,000.
Ruben J. Matuk, 28, had been charged last month by the district attorney’s office on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, indecent exposure, attempted lewd acts with a child under 14 and sexual battery, according to court records. Investigators allege the crimes occurred at the church, 1515 Santa Ana Road, and also at Matuk’s residence adjacent to that address, a sheriff’s office detective has said.
Today in court, Judge Steven Sanders ruled to keep bail at $100,000 – which Matuk posted nine days after his arrest Nov. 14. Deputy District Attorney Karen Forcum also noted how prosecutors are preparing to file an amended complaint with a third suspected victim, though details surrounding the allegation or allegations are unclear and Forcum was not available immediately following today’s 2 p.m. hearing.
Forcum told the judge she expects to conduct a forensic interview next week and will have the complaint amendment completed shortly after that. Sanders followed up by scheduling a preliminary setting hearing for 4 p.m. Dec. 24.
Authorities believe the crimes started in September 2003 when they suspect Matuk committed lewd and lascivious acts with a girl who had been 12 years old.
Regarding the second suspected victim, prosecutors charged Matuk on suspicion of attempted lewd and lascivious acts in June 2008, along with indecent exposure and sexual battery on Sept. 1 of this year, according to court records. Those dates mean the alleging victim would have been about 15 years old at the time.
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