Two Men Face Child Sex Abuse Charges

Two men — one is a pastor — face charges of committing sexual abuse of a minor in separate incidents, according to statements from Montgomery County police.

Jeankite Joseph | MCPD

In the first case, Jeankite Joseph, 49, of the 13600 block of Cedar Creek Lane in Fairland, is the pastor of Church of Messengers of God, which is in his home, police said.

The victim, 11 at the time of the offense, is a family member and a congregant of his church, police said. Joseph has been charged with committing sexual abuse of a minor and a third-degree sexual offense, according to online court records.

According to police, the incident occurred on Dec. 31, 2014. The victim and her family were at Joseph’s home for a prayer service. After the service concluded, the victim’s mother went to work and the victim was left in the care of Joseph and his wife, police said. During that time, Joseph inappropriately touched the victim and initiated sexual contact with her, police said.

Special Victims Investigation Division detectives learned of the incident on May 31, according to the police statement.

A warrant was issued for Joseph’s arrest on June 25 and he was arrested by law enforcement officers in Atlanta, on June 28, police said. Joseph was extradited to Montgomery County on July 12. Bail was set at $20,000; Joseph posted bond and was released, according to online court records.

In the second case, Gene Alphonse Brugada Pasay, 30, of the 14300 block of Rose Tree Court in Silver Spring, faces two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, police said.

According to police, Pasay victimized two boys, 10 and 11 at the time of the abuse, who were his students while Pasay was an instructor at the Renaissance Art Center on Gaither Road in Gaithersburg.

Gene Alphonse Brugada Pasay | MCPD

The boys told detectives that the abuse occurred between September 2018 and March 2019 during an art class at the Renaissance Art Center, police said.

The abuse included (but was not limited to) Pasay making sexual gestures, talking about topics of a sexual and graphic nature, and showing the two students inappropriate videos and photographs, police said.

SVID investigators learned of the incidents on June 4.

On July 15, Pasay was arrested. He is being held without bail, according to online court records.

Sexual abuse of a minor is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 25 years. The charge is considered a violent crime, in which the court will set a minimum penalty.

A third-degree sex offense is a felony, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

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