As reported by 10 News, Rafael Valentin Magana, a 27-year-old church choir leader, was arrested for sexually assaulting a minor in 2021.
According to Fox 5 San Diego, the 15-year-old victim was a member of Magana's choir group at the Victory Outreach Church campus in San Ysidro. In November 2021, the girl attended a baby shower at a fellow church member's residence. The choir leader, then 25 years old, drove her to the event. After the baby shower, instead of taking her home, Magana allegedly took her to an isolated location in the Paradise Hills neighborhood where she was sexually assaulted in his car.
The victim came forward and reported the assault to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) on March 1. The SDPD Sex Crimes Unit launched an investigation and identified Magana as the culprit. He was found using aliases such as Rafael Burciaga and Rafael Magana-Burciaga, further casting suspicions on his conduct.
On August 24, Magana was arrested by the SDPD officers in National City and booked into San Diego County Jail.
The police are urging those with any information about similar incidents or related to this case to step forward and call the SDPD Sex Crimes Unit at 619-531-2210 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477, as they believe there might be more victims.
