News Releases

Youth Minister Charged with Sexual Offenses

For Immediate Release: Friday, July 17, 2015

Detectives with the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Investigations Division have been investigating the sexual assault of a 13-year-old female by a 24-year-old youth minister.

The investigation began on June 26, 2015, and revealed that the 13-year-old female had become close to the suspect in February of 2015, when she was a participant in the youth group at the River of Life Church where the suspect served as a youth group minister. The church is located at 5906 Halpine Road in Rockville. By April of 2015, the suspect had begun a dating relationship with the victim and he initiated sexual contact. The relationship escalated to multiple incidents of sexual activity into June of this year. The suspect was aware that the victim was 13 years old. None of the sexual activity occurred on church property.

On July 10, 2015, detectives arrested and charged Paolo Dominic Belarmino, age 24, of the 13300 block of Midway Avenue in Rockville. He was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree rape, second-degree sexual offense and third-degree sexual offense. He was released on July 13.

If anyone else believes that they have been victimized by Belarmino, they are asked to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.

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lehb

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Release ID: 15-214
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases