North Las Vegas church impostor assaults teenage girl in church restroom

NORTH LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — North Las Vegas police are on the search for a man who posed as a church worker and assaulted a teenage girl.

“This is one of those things we are praying about,” said Pastor Jerald Mason with Vegas View Church of God in Christ.

Pastor Mason is still bothered knowing a man posed as a church worker and sexually assaulted a teenage girl.

North Las Vegas Police say last month, the man stood near the Vegas View Church of God in Christ off of North 5th Street and East Lake Mead Boulevard.

Officers say the suspect shook hands with its members.

Pastor Mason remembers meeting the man during a Saturday morning food bank drive.

“I’m appalled that in our effort to better this community, an individual would come here and take advantage of our community activity here," Mason said.

Investigators say the church impostor pulled the teenage girl from the greeting line. He told the victim they needed to head to a restroom so she could be counseled. When in the restroom, police say the man inappropriately touched her. The teenage girl says once the suspect learned her age he left the church building.

“While we were operating, he went around and greeted individuals, and we had no idea what he was up to, what he was doing,” Mason said.

Pastor Mason says the church now has changed its security protocol in connection with their community greetings.

“We have changed the protocol, and we watch over our lines, and we see what the community is between those individuals waiting to provide the services with what we are doing,” said Pastor Mason

The pastor says this man’s actions will not stop their 40-year service of gathering food for the less fortunate.

“I believe it’s very important, the culture that is around our community today, that this individual is apprehended,” said Pastor Mason.