Church youth group volunteer charged with child molestation

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By Angel K. Brooks

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Cobb County and Acworth police are investigating multiple cases of alleged child molestation after a church youth group volunteer was charged with the crime.

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Cobb County Police Department, Cobb County Police Department Cesar Pastrana, 25, of Kennesaw is accused of child molestation.

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Cesar Pastrana, 25, of Kennesaw is in custody at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, authorities said Monday. He is charged with aggravated child molestation, child molestation and sexual battery.

Pastrana is accused of molesting a juvenile who attended a youth group lock-in called "THRIVE," held Feb. 3 and 4 by Kennesaw's Northstar Church at a private Cobb residence, investigators said.

A Cobb investigation found two other juveniles who allegedly were victimized at a private residence in late December to early January in unincorporated Cobb, Sgt. Dana Pierce with Cobb police said.

Investigators are working to determine any other events in the metro Atlanta area where Pastrana may have been present.

"We're not limiting the scope of our investigation to just churches," Pierce told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We're also asking about schools and anything he volunteered to do."

Anyone with information about any cases that may involve Pastrana should call the Cobb police's Crimes Against Children Unit at 770-801-3470.