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Pastor Is Accused of Sexually Assaulting 2 Girls at a Florida Church — and Allegedly Gave a Chilling Reasoning Behind the Abuse

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Pastor Is Accused of Sexually Assaulting 2 Girls at a Florida Church — and Allegedly Gave a Chilling Reasoning Behind the Abuse


NEED TO KNOW

  • A Florida pastor is accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls on church grounds
  • Yersson Solarte, 33, has been charged with sexual battery of a minor and lewd and lascivious molestation
  • The religious figure allegedly told one of the victims, “We only live once,” per The Miami Herald

A Florida pastor is facing legal trouble after being accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls on church grounds.

Yersson Solarte, 33, was arrested by the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia on Wednesday, May 7, during a coordinated effort with Florida’s Sanford Police Department (SPD). Authorities believe Solarte was on a “family trip” at the time of his arrest. He has since been charged with sexual battery of a minor and lewd and lascivious molestation.

Officials first learned of reports of an alleged “inappropriate relationship” between Solarte and two underage victims on April 10, which led them to launch an investigation, the SPD said in a statement shared on Facebook.

The SPD then claimed that the pastor “did inappropriately touch the victims” and sexually assaulted one of them at Ipul Pentecostal Church — or Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Latinoamericana Orlando Norte — in Sanford.

Both minors were members of the church, and Solarte has since been removed from his position, per the SPD.

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A contact for the Ipul Pentecostal Church did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. As of Saturday, May 10, Solarte’s name remains on the church’s website.

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According to an affidavit obtained by The Miami Herald, the first girl reported Solarte days after her most recent incident that allegedly involved him. The girl claimed that the religious figure made her sit on his lap and sexually assaulted her in both his office and the church’s multimedia room.

The outlet also reported, citing police, that the second girl claimed she was abused by Solarte multiple times. The girl alleged that Solarte “expressed his love for her,” before hugging her sister and trying to make her jealous.

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She also claimed that Solarte molested her in his office and during a “juvenile meeting,” and also “forcefully” grabbed her face to kiss her. The girl further alleged that the pastor unzipped his pants and said they were a “couple,” per the Herald.

At one point, the girl claimed that the pastor explained his reasoning behind the reported abuse, allegedly telling her, “We only live once,” the Herald reported, citing investigators.

Police are currently asking those with more information tied to the case to get in touch, as they said there “is a possibility” there are additional victims who haven’t yet come forward about Solarte — who ABC affiliate WPLG reported is a married father.

“People like this are a special class of criminal, who use their position of trust to prey on innocent victims,” Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement. “Solarte is now behind bars where he belongs.”

“We pray there aren’t any additional people who have been victimized by this man. If anyone has information about these crimes, or other victims, come forward and help protect our children,” Smith added.

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The pastor has since been transported to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Florida. It is not immediately clear if he has legal representation to comment on his behalf.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.



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Rainy stretch continues in South Florida

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Rainy stretch continues in South Florida


South Florida is experiencing a prolonged stretch of wet weather as deep tropical moisture combines with a stalled frontal boundary across the region.

The result has been frequent showers, thunderstorms, periods of heavy rainfall, and localized flooding concerns from Broward to Miami-Dade and throughout the Keys.

The atmosphere is loaded with moisture, allowing storms to produce intense downpours in a short amount of time.

Some neighborhoods have already seen several inches of rain, with additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected through the end of the week.

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Flood-prone streets and poor drainage areas remain especially vulnerable during the heaviest rainfall.

While the rain is helping ease drought conditions, it is also increasing the risk of flash flooding and travel delays.

South Florida is two weeks into its rainy season, when abundant heat and humidity combine to generate daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms.

Heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and gusty winds are common features of this time of year.

The good news? Drier air will gradually filter into parts of the region heading into the weekend, allowing rain chances to slightly decrease. Until then, keep the umbrella handy and be prepared for sudden tropical downpours.

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Man accused of kidnapping woman at Wawa in Central Florida

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Man accused of kidnapping woman at Wawa in Central Florida


NEWS


A man is in custody after deputies said he tried to kidnap a woman at a Wawa near Winter park. Per investigators, Matthew Seaberg approached the victim from behind, picked her up by the waist, and threw her into his truck.



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Jury selection continues in fatal boat crash trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino

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Jury selection continues in fatal boat crash trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino


MIAMI — A new group of prospective jurors was questioned Tuesday in the trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino, who is charged in connection with a 2022 boat crash that killed a teenager in Miami-Dade County.

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During jury selection in a Miami-Dade courtroom, Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez asked potential jurors what they already knew about the case and whether they had recently seen or heard anything about it.

Several prospective jurors said they knew only basic details, including that a fatal boating crash occurred and that a teenage girl died. Others said they recalled media reports that alcohol may have been involved.

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As questioning continued, some prospective jurors disclosed connections to schools and communities tied to the case.

Passengers aboard Pino’s boat included his wife, his teenage daughter and 11 of her friends, many of whom attended private schools in Miami-Dade County.

One prospective juror said they graduated from a local private school around the time of the crash and were familiar with some of the students involved.

Another said references to schools and witnesses brought back memories of seeing posts and articles about the incident shared on social media.

A third said their child participates in youth sports with students from schools connected to the case.

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Investigators said the boat struck a channel marker while returning from an outing on Biscayne Bay. Seventeen-year-old Lourdes Academy student Lucy Fernandez drowned after the crash.

Tinkler Mendez also addressed concerns that a prospective juror had been viewing a news report about the case on a cellphone while waiting outside the courtroom.

Another prospective juror reported hearing the report but said it was not loud enough for everyone in the area to hear.

Tinkler Mendez reminded prospective jurors to avoid news coverage and social media discussions related to the case as jury selection continues.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.





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