Volunteer charged with sexual assault in Richmond church

RICHMOND – A former volunteer at a Richmond church was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a music student over several years, police said Friday.

Police believe the suspect, Miguel Angel Villalobos-Ramirez, 37, of Richmond, may be responsible for similar attacks at other churches in the Bay Area.

He has so far been charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office with two counts of rape and two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object.

He was arrested on June 21 and remains in the West County Detention Facility pending $400,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 8.

Police said Friday that they were contacted on March 21 of this year by a woman who reported that as a young woman she had been sexually abused by Villalobos-Ramirez during her music lessons at St. Cornelius Catholic Church, 205 28th St. Church officials said he was a volunteer in the music ministry.

The woman told police that the abuse lasted from 2010 to 2022, beginning when she was a minor and continuing until she reached adulthood.

Police launched an extensive investigation that culminated in Villalobos’ arrest and formal charges on Tuesday. According to court documents, the confirmed alleged assaults occurred between January 2019 and January 2023.

According to police, Villalobos has worked as a volunteer at several churches throughout the Bay Area since 2010, including St. Cornelius, St. Clement’s Catholic Church in Hayward and most recently, until his arrest, Queen of all Saints Church in Concord. Church officials said he also volunteered in the music ministry at the other two churches.

Police said that based on information gained during the investigation, it is believed there are additional victims who have not yet come forward. Police are urging anyone who has had inappropriate contact with Villalobos or knows of such incidents to immediately contact Detective Terry Thomas at 510-621-1746 or via email at [email protected].