Minister charged with rape, abuse
A man who was the minister of a local Spanish speaking church has been indicted on charges of rape and sexual abuse in Adair and Taylor counties.
Carlos Mendez-Almendra, 42, was indicted in Columbia on May 25 for rape 1st degree and five counts of sexual abuse 1st degree.
Last week, he was indicted in Taylor County on charges of sexual abuse 1st degree and intimidating a witness in the legal process.
Mendez-Almendra, 2227 Cane Valle Rd., was minister of Apostoles Prophetas, a Spanish speaking church located on Hwy. 531. The church is now closed.
He was indicted after four alleged victims came to the Kentucky State Police Post in Columbia on April 15 and 16 and accused Mendez-Almendra of rape and sexual assault.
According to an arrest warrant issued by KSP, the incidents occurred when Mendez-Almendra would invite the women to his house or go to their residence for prayer then he would use physical force to sexually assault them.
KSP Det. B.J. Burton said the incidents occurred between 2008 and 2010. Some occurred at the church, some at the victims’ residences and some at Mendez-Almendra’s residence.
One victim told KSP that Mendez-Almendra said he would kill her and her husband with a knife if she told anyone of the incident. All the victims claimed that Mendez-Almendra threatened them and told them not to tell.
The victims range from 18 to 37 years old, with two of them being mother and daughter. According to Burton, Mendez-Almendra said through a translator that the alleged victims were members of his church but he denied any charges being brought against him.
When Det. Burton was asked why all the victims came forward in such a short period of time, he said he understood that two of the victims had initially confided in another Spanish speaking pastor and told him what happened. When the others realized they were not alone, they all came forward.
Det. Burton also said that Mendez-Almendra has charges facing him in Campbellsville because two of the victims’ residences are located in Taylor County.
On April 19, Menedez-Almendra was given a $100,000 cash bond with the conditions of having no contact with the alleged victims or complaining witnesses.
