Pastor and Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Arrested for Child Abuse

A man from California, who has a background in both pastoring and jiu-jitsu, is facing accusations of sexually abusing children for years. Authorities are cautioning that there could be more victims not yet reported.

Emmanuel Marchica, 51, from Hollister, was taken into custody on July 10. This came after detectives from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation stemming from allegations of ongoing child sexual abuse. The inquiry quickly uncovered multiple victims.

The investigation kicked off on July 5 when officials received a report related to child sexual abuse. Detectives promptly interviewed several witnesses and uncovered more suspected victims before executing multiple search warrants, leading to Marchica’s arrest.

Authorities mentioned that the victims’ accounts date back to at least 2012, hinting that there may be additional victims or witnesses yet to come forward.

At the time of his arrest, Marchica was serving as a pastor and leading religious services at a community center in Hidden Valley, located in San Benito County. It’s notable that his congregation or organization has not yet been disclosed.

Additionally, Marchica was linked to community activities, having owned bakery shops and gyms in the area, where he provided services such as physical therapy and massage therapy, alongside teaching jiu-jitsu. This mix of local connections may have exposed him to more potential victims over the years.

Now facing several felony charges, including lewd acts with a child and oral copulation, Marchica was booked into the Monterey County Jail with a bail set at $17.5 million.

The Sheriff’s Office has made a plea for anyone who may have been a victim of Marchica or who has information to reach out to the detectives. They understand that many victims of sexual abuse often take years to report their experiences and assure them of a compassionate and respectful investigation process.

For any further information or to assist in the investigation, individuals can contact Detective Janelli Arroyo or Detective Sgt. Nicholas Kennedy.