Posted on 03/13/2002 5:43:18 AM PST by areafiftyone
An Allapattah Baptist minister who once led an anti-crime march was arrested Monday night after police found him inside a parked van, naked, having sex with a 17-year-old boy.
Misael Castillo, 41, was charged with having unlawful sexual acts with a minor. The longtime pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Castillo -- married with two children -- was released on $15,000 bond Tuesday morning.
''He was leading a double life,'' said Miami police Lt. William Schwartz. ``Family and church on one side, secret sexual liaisons on the other.''
The sex was consensual, police said. Castillo met the youth in an Internet chat room.
Castillo did not return calls to his church and home. He has no statewide criminal record.
It was the second time in a week that a South Florida clergyman has been accused of having sexual contact with an underage boy. Last week, the Catholic bishop of the Palm Beach diocese admitted he fondled a teenage seminarian 25 years ago.
No charges have been filed in that case.
Castillo's arrest came after residents noticed a white van parked at about 10 p.m. at the side of Southwest 24th Avenue, just west of South Dixie Highway. The van was sitting under the Metrorail tracks.
''It was there for about an hour,'' said Jorge Ponce, 16, who lives in a nearby apartment. ``It was all dark in there.''
''It looked really suspicious,'' added another resident who would not give her name. ``I got kind of scared.''
Eventually someone called police. Officers pulled up and found Castillo and the teenager -- both naked -- inside the van.
''There were about three police cars and an old guy and a young guy,'' said Adriana Rodriguez, 45, who lives in the neighborhood. ``The young guy had his hands [behind his back]; the old guy had them raised up in the air.''
Police took Castillo back to headquarters. He confessed he had sex with the youth Monday night and on a previous occasion, police said.
The revelation shocked those who know Castillo.
''He's been a faithful pastor and his service has been noteworthy,'' said Rev. David Cleeland, executive director of the Miami Baptist Association, a 280-church organization to which Castillo's church belonged.
At Jerusalem Baptist Church -- a flat, lemon-colored building in the 2400 block of Northwest 23rd Street -- members appeared grim. Those who stopped by on Tuesday hurried inside without answering a reporter's questions.
One person who did speak was 10-year-old George Fletes. His mother works at the flower shop across the street from the church.
Fletes said the pastor invited him to a Friday night service two weeks ago.
''He was nice,'' George said. ``It was during that time when it was really cold. I went in there. Everything was normal.''
Not any longer.
According to Florida State Statute 794.05, anyone who is 24 or older and has sex with someone 16 or 17 -- even consensually -- has committed a second-degree felony. It is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The youth Castillo was found with is two months shy of his 18th birthday.
Castillo lives at 1858 NW 26th St., in a neighborhood of modest one-story homes. Neighbors there praised the man who organized Allapattah's first walk against crime five years ago.
''I feel like it's [happening] to my father,'' said Sonia Rivera. ``He's so nice. He always invited me and my family to go to church.''
''He's peaceful -- you wouldn't expect something like that,'' added Jesse Gutierrez, 18. ``When our house got broken into, he called the cops and helped us out.
``He was like the neighborhood watch.''
GOOD
This is NOT a comfort.
Why would a crime watch savvy guy park his van in a suspicious place to have sex with a teen? He was self-destructive and wanting to get caught. Satan wins that round. He got the preacher, the kid and the church. Now as people twist into morality contortions to support the pastor he'll win more..... just as he wins when others are turned against the church.
He's an Anti-Catholic!!
Catholicism has nothing to do with it. And it is not the only religion that has had its share of child molesters. There are plenty of ministers and reverends who have had affairs with other men and women and even little boys. They live under the cover of being happily married while living this sickening double life. It happens in all religions. NO RELIGION IS EXEMPT. THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT OF CONTROL!
NOTE: From the looks of things, he was a Baptist closet homosexual.
What is it with people like you anyway? Any chance you get to take a cheap-shot at Catholics you jump at! A truly moral and dececent person would have not made such a comment. Please stop being a jerk...while you have the chance!
as much as the Catholic Church has its issues, and despite the fact I like to whip em like a rented pony occasionally (I'm ex myself)- That comment was pretty harsh.
I think the larger issue lies in the fact these animals recognize they can predate safely from the pulpit as it is a trusted position - These pigs by no means should be confused with dedicated clergy - Catholic OR Protestant.
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