A youth worker who volunteered at two Vancouver churches was arrested Sunday on suspicion of child sex abuse, and police are asking to speak with anyone who might have information about him.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office was alerted on Saturday to the alleged sex abuse. A family member of Christopher Joseph Gonzales, 44, of Vancouver said Gonzales had abused children at her home on several occasions since 2008, according to the sheriff’s office. The alleged victims include three girls as young as 5 years old, the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives with the agency’s Child Abuse division learned that Gonzales had volunteered since 2010 at the Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver and since early this year at the Freedom Community Church, which holds Sunday services at Salmon Creek Elementary School, according to its website.
On Sunday, Gonzales was booked into the Washington County Jail on suspicion of nine counts of first-degree sexual abuse. His bail was set at $750,000.
Anyone who might have more information about Gonzales is asked to call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 503-846-2500.
