Brownwood News – Fernando Hernandez was arrested by a Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy and booked into the Brown County Jail on August 1st for Indecency With a Child/Sexual Contact. Hernandez is currently being held in the Brown County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling $150,000.
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Previously Hernandez was arrested Friday, July 27th, in Coleman on charges of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child and Indecency With a Child after probable cause affidavits were filed with the Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace in Brown County on Wednesday, July 25th. The two affidavits, signed by Texas Ranger Jason Shea, list instances of sexual abuse perpetrated on at least two children, one was seven years old during an alleged incident with Hernandez.
This latest probable cause affidavit, filed on July 31st with the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, lists an incident that happened in 2010. The report was submitted by Texas Ranger Jason Shea and details an outcry from a young girl claiming Hernandez sexually abused her during a church youth trip.
The victim reported she and other youth members from “It’s a Challenge” church went to Columbus, Texas for a church function in 2010. Fernando Hernandez was identified as the youth pastor at the time of the abuse. On August 6, 2010, as the group was traveling back from Columbus they stopped in Brownwood to spend the night at one of Hernandez’s relative’s homes.
The child told investigators around 4 or 5 a.m. she felt a hand “going down her shorts.” The child said she opened her eyes and saw Hernandez beside her with his hands down her shorts, touching her genital area. She tried to close her legs, hoping to deter the abuser, but told investigators Hernandez moved her legs to continue to touch her. When she acted startled, Hernandez then pulled away and went to the restroom.
The family reported the incident to the Plainview Police Department on August 12, 2010. On September 8, 2010 a retired member of the Brownwood Police Department received a call from the child’s mother regarding the outcry. There is no current information available as to why the investigation did not move forward at that time.
On July 27, 2018 investigators contacted the child, now an adult, regarding the incident. The victim stated she remembered the incident and would assist with the investigation. She also stated she was still very upset about what happened.
Fernando Hernandez is currently the pastor of “It’s a Challenge Church” in Brownwood.
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According to the documents filed, an investigation began November 23, 2016 when the Brownwood Police Department was advised of a possible sexual assault. During a subsequent interview, the child told investigators Hernandez put his hand down her pants and touched her genitals. The child stated “this happened every time she went to Hernandez’s home,” according to the report. Hernandez also allegedly told the child not to tell anyone or he would go to prison.
On July 18, 2018 another child made an outcry of abuse. In the affidavit, the child reportedly told investigators Hernandez assaulted her by touch and exposed himself, asking the child to touch his genitals. The child’s mother told investigators she had “always wondered why (Child Victim #2) acted strange towards Hernandez.”
The affidavits also report testimony with a member of Hernandez’s family who said they do not leave children alone with Fernando due to past allegations of sexual abuse.
Fernando Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Coleman County Jail. He was later released on bonds totaling $50,000.
Authorities believe there may be additional alleged victims and asked that they contact Texas Ranger Shea’s office at 325-641-0746.
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