Youth pastor accused of raping girls he met through church work
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A Carpinteria youth pastor is accused of raping two teenage girls he met through his church work, authorities said Thursday.
Louis Joseph Bristol, 28, is being held at Santa Barbara County Jail in lieu of $2-million bail, according to a news release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the girls, both juveniles, received “inappropriate” texts and photos from Bristol this year and in 2012. He raped each of them in vacant rooms at the Holiday Inn Express where he worked as an assistant manager, according to the release.
Bristol was a high school pastor at Carpinteria Community Church.
He is charged with multiple counts of child molestation, child rape and lewd acts upon a child. In addition, he is accused of providing marijuana to youth group members and furnishing an illegal substance to minors.
Detectives said they suspect there may be additional victims.
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