Sanford pastor arrested after sex acts on girls at his church, police say

SANFORD, Fla. – A Sanford pastor was arrested Wednesday on sex charges amid allegations of inappropriate conduct with two girls at his church, police said.

Yersson David Solarte Basto, who has since been removed from his role as pastor at Ipul Pentecostal Church on South Orlando Drive, faces charges of sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation.

The Sanford Police Department said on April 10 the agency received a report of an inappropriate relationship between Solarte and two girls, whose ages have not been released.

An investigation determined that Solarte created or attempted to create an inappropriate relationship with the girls, inappropriately touched them and sexually assaulted one of them, police said.

Investigators issued an arrest warrant for Solarte, who was believed to be out of state on a family trip, police said.

On Wednesday, members of the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia arrested Solarte, who will be transported back to the John E. Polk Correctional Facility.

“People like this are a special class of criminal, who use their position of trust to prey on innocent victims. Solarte is now behind bars where he belongs,” Sanford police Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement.

At his first appearance in court May 15, having since been moved to the Seminole County Jail, a judge ordered that Solarte be held on no bond and would have no contact with the victim or the victim’s mother.

According to police, there’s concern that there could be more victims who have not come forward.

“We pray there aren’t any additional people who have been victimized by this man,” Smith said. “If anyone has information about these crimes, or other victims, come forward and help protect our children.”

Anyone with information about the case or similar incidents is asked to contact the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS or visit crimeline.org.