Church Volunteer Charged with Having Sex with 14-Year-Old

A 50-year-old Garden Grove church volunteer has been charged with having sex with a 14-year-old girl, Orange County prosecutors announced today.

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Vincent Daniel Lavello of Garden Grove was a volunteer church leader at Calvary Chapel West Grove in Garden Grove when he engaged in the alleged sexual relationship with the teen between June and this month, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Lavello’s wife discovered “inappropriate” text messages her husband had allegedly sent the girl and reported it to the church pastor, who called police, according to prosecutors.

Lavello would provide help financially to the girl’s family, including helping them get an apartment and buying the teen gifts, prosecutors said.

Lavello is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a child at least 10 years younger than the defendant and six felony counts of lewd acts on a child.

Lavello, who was arrested Oct. 28, was being held on $100,000 bail, according to jail records.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.