KTLA

Hesperia pastor, foster dad arrested for alleged sex abuse of girls, 10 and 16

Jose Manuel Lozano is shown in an April 25, 2024, photo provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

A Hesperia pastor and foster father has been arrested for the alleged ongoing sexual abuse of two girls, one of whom was only 10 years old.

On Thursday, 54-year-old Jose Manuel Lozano was arrested by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a minor, officials said in a news release.

Lozano’s arrest comes at the end of an investigation into “allegations of continuous sexual abuse of minors by a foster parent and pastor of a local church,” authorities said.

The church was not identified, but the victims were listed as two girls, one 10 years old and the other 16.

Lozano did not appear in a search of jail records, but the Sheriff’s Department says he’s being held at the High Desert Detention Center in lieu of $5 million bail.

Detectives believe there may be other victims, and they’re asking anyone with information to come forward and contact Deputy Frankie Zavala at 760-947-1500.

To report information anonymously, contact the WeTip hotline at 800-78-CRIME (27463) or visit wetip.com.