A pastor accused of sexually assaulting a preteen girl at a Covina hotel earlier this week surrendered to police Sunday before posting $280,000 bail to be released the same day.
Douglas Rivera, 40, turned himself in to the Covina Police Department two days after Covina police released surveillance images of a man accused of sexually assaulting one of two minors staying at Vanllee Hotel and Suites.
He was booked on charges of sexual assault, indecent exposure and burglary, authorities said.
Investigators said the man watched the girls — a 10- and 12-year-old who were part of a Chinese tourist group — from the hotel’s parking lot and masturbated in his truck before going to their room and attacking one of them.
Police later said they were looking for Rivera, who appeared to be a pastor at God’s Gypsy Christian Church in Glendale.
Rivera released a video on Friday, saying he was innocent and planned to turn himself in on Wednesday.
The suspect was taken into custody Sunday morning “without incident” and was being held at the Covina Police Department, the agency said in a tweet. He later posted $280,000 bail.
As he walked away from the police department, after posting bail, he remained silent when faced with questions from reporters.
An Instagram account for God’s Gypsy Christian Church had announced a news conference hosted by a pastor named Steve Miller for Sunday evening but later postponed that event in another post acknowledging the “voluntary surrender” by Rivera.
“We support the Covina Police Department in their effort to conduct their full investigation, and our sincere prayers are with all people who have been affected by this situation,” the church wrote.
Rivera’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.