Enrique Molina. (Photo courtesy of Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
The pastor of a church located until recently in Red Bank has been arrested and criminally charged with sexually assaulting a juvenile parishioner repeatedly over a period of three years, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Monday.
Enrique Molina, 50, is charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, four counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, three counts of second-degree Sexual Assault, two counts of third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, one count of third-degree Attempted Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, one count of third-degree Hindering Apprehension, and three counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact.
Molina is the pastor of Iglesia Pentecostal Nuevo Remanente, which, like many smaller congregations, appears to have rented space in various locations, including the homes of more established churches.
The church was located on Monmouth Street in Red Bank when Molina’s alleged crimes began in 2018, according to the press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Posts on the church’s Facebook page indicate it held services in 2024 at a church at 172 Catherine Street and, more recently, at the Reformed Church of Tinton Falls at 62 Hance Avenue in Tinton Falls.
Numerous videos on the site show Molina delivering fiery sermons in Spanish to rapt congregants praising God and imploring them to repent and follow the Gospel’s teachings. But prosecutors now say he began assaulting one of them when she was just 14 years old.
More from the MCPO press release:
The investigation into Molina’s activities began with the Red Bank Police Department, which subsequently coordinated with
members of the Eatontown, Neptune Township, and Ocean Township police departments and the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau.The investigation determined that Molina met the victim at his church – Iglesia Pentecostal Nuevo Remanente, formerly located on Monmouth Street in Red Bank – and his criminal sexual activity began approximately seven years ago, when she was 14, then continued for more than three years, with crimes taking place in four Monmouth County municipalities.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
Molina was taken into custody without incident last week and lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending hearings in Monmouth County Superior Court.
A phone message left with a receptionist for Molina’s attorney, Thomas Carver, was not immediately returned.
Anyone with information about Molina’s activities is being urged to contact MCPO Detective Jason Apaza at 800-533-7443, Eatontown Police Department Detective Jorge Gonzalez at 732-389-7628, or Ocean Township Police Department Detective Michael Legg at 732-531-1800.
This case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki, Director of the MCPO Special Victims Bureau. Molina is being represented by Thomas Carver, Esq., with an office in Freehold.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
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