Latter-day Saint missionary from California arrested for alleged sexual assault of woman – Deseret News

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints immediately dismissed one of its missionaries from volunteer service when the Californian was arrested in Utah on Saturday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman.

Abraham Isaac Cruz Hernandez, 19, was booked into the Utah County Jail on investigation of rape, forcible sodomy and sexual assault.

“This individual was immediately dismissed from his volunteer missionary service when the church learned of these very serious and disturbing allegations,” the church said in a statement. “The church is cooperating fully with law enforcement in this investigation. Missionaries are expected to adhere to the highest standards, and those who do not comply are released and sent home, and in situations involving criminal allegations may also face loss of church membership .”

According to a police affidavit, KSL.com, Saratoga Springs police received a call and responded to a home where a woman said she had been sexually assaulted by a man who lived across the street. When officers arrived, they found Hernandez standing in a driveway. He told officers he was alone with the victim and the two “eventually had sex,” the affidavit said, according to KSL.

The woman told police she was alone with Hernandez in the garage when he began kissing her, “which she had initially agreed to do,” the affidavit states.

But then Hernandez became more forceful and sexually assaulted the victim, even after she told him to stop, the affidavit said.

“Soon after, their friends came into the garage and told them to pull over,” the report said, according to KSL.

Police noted in the arrest report obtained by KSL.com that Hernandez had served as a missionary and “has no family, support system or ties within Utah.” If released, he will likely return to his home state of California.”