CBS Atlanta 46Cobb County police arrest man on child molestation charges

Cobb County police arrested a man for allegedly sexually assaulting children.

Police arrested 25-year-old Cesar Pastrana after learning of several incidents in which police said he molested children.

According to investigators, the Northstar Church on Blue Springs Circle in Kennesaw held a youth lock-in from February 3-4.

During the lock-in, police said Pastrana of Spangle Circle in Kennesaw allegedly molested a juvenile who attended the event at a home in Cobb County.

As a result of the Acworth Police Department case, the Cobb County Police Department started its own investigation and discovered that two other juveniles were victimized at a private residence in late December 2010 to early January 2011 in unincorporated Cobb County.

Rev. Mike Linch, Senior Pastor at NorthStar Church released this statement:

"On Tuesday, February 2, I was made aware of a situation that had occurred the weekend of February 3-5 during "Thrive," an event for our high school and middle school students. One of the volunteers in our ministry, Cesar, was accused by one of the students of inappropriate conduct. When I was made aware, here are the steps we took as church:

"We called Cesar in for a meeting. He denied the allegation but we immediately released him as a volunteer in our ministry and asked him to not come back to NorthStar.

"We began immediately working with authorities to make sure that any family from the weekend was properly contacted and told about the allegation. We also did our best to contact the parents of students that he had worked with in the past. We made personal phone calls to the parents and talked through the allegation made and encouraged them to talk to their child and if there were questions or concerns to contact the authorities directly.

"Our number one goal is the protection of the children that are in our care. We have hundreds of children and students here every weekend and we do not take that responsibility lightly. We do background checks on every volunteer in our ministry and have one on him that is clean. We mandate that no volunteers, on NorthStar time, are ever alone with a student.

"We have spoken to two of the affected families and have walked with them through the process and have gotten both in touch with a professional counselor in the community (not affiliated with NorthStar) to work with. We will continue to journey and walk with them.

"We realize that there is good and bad in this world. Today is one of those bad days.

"We are broken hearted for everyone affected but know that we will stand strong in these days ahead."

Pastrana is currently being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center charged with aggravated child molestation, child molestation, and sexual battery.

Anyone with information about this or any other case involving Pastrana is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Departments Crimes Against Children Unit at (770) 801-3470.

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