Pastor-coach pleads not guilty

A pastor and youth soccer coach pleaded not guilty this week to charges that he possessed child pornography and molested an 8-year-old Huntington Beach girl.

Christopher Raymond Olague, 39, of Westminster was arrested in October by the Huntington Beach Police Department after the mother of the victim reported the alleged molestation.

Olague allegedly picked up the girl Oct. 5 for a play date at a park with one of his daughters. Instead, he took her to the parking lot of a grocery store and molested her, said HBPD Lt. Russell Reinhart.

When the girl began crying, Olague allegedly gave her $40 and told her not to tell her parents, Reinhart said. The girl told her mother.

He posted $100,000 in bail and was out while police continued their investigation.

Police later discovered the child pornography, which included thousands of images, and re-arrested him Nov. 23, Reinhart said.

He’s being held in lieu of $1 million, according to the Orange County District attorney’s office.

Olague, who entered his plea Tuesday, remained in custody Wednesday.

Before his arrest, Olague worked as a pastor at Refuge Southland Church in Buena Park and coached soccer for the American Youth Soccer Organization.

He is charged with two felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, felony kidnapping for molestation, attempting to dissuade a witness, using a minor for sex acts and possession of child pornography. He has a sentencing enhancement for kidnapping in the commission of a sexual assault and lewd acts against multiple victims, prosecutors said.

He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in prison, with an additional 13 years and four months if convicted.

A call to Refuge Southland Church was not returned by Wednesday.

mona.shadia@latimes.com

Twitter: @MonaShadia