A Metro Vancouver pastor has been charged with sexual offences against children after a months-long investigation by New Westminster police.
Pastor Edwin Alvarez was arrested in Saanich of Jan. 4 and charged with three counts of sexual interference and three counts of sexual assault, the NWPD announced in a press release on Jan. 9.
The department began an investigation in the spring of 2022 after receiving "multiple reports" of sexual interference against children over the course of several years, the release says. The alleged offences took place between 2017 and 2021.
Alvarez was arrested with the help of the Saanich Police Department.
“We encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of sexual violence to come forward and report the incident to police,” said NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Justine Thom. “We take these reports seriously, and this case is an example of how offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence.”
The release says Alvarez was a pastor "at a small church in the Metro Vancouver area" at the time of the assault, but it does not name the church.
The Record will update this story as more information becomes available.
Where to find support for sexual assault survivors
"The New Westminster Police Department understands that while sexual assaults often cause long-lasting trauma, survivors may have difficulty speaking about the incidents with friends, family members, or police officers," the release notes.
If someone is not ready to report to police but is ready to seek support, contact the Emergency Sexual Assault Support program at Cameray at 236-668-6687 or [email protected].
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