Overview
- Riverside County authorities arrested 41-year-old Lino Hernandez at his Blythe residence and booked him on multiple sexual assault charges; he remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court.
- The Sheriff’s Office says the inquiry began earlier this year and investigators identified Hernandez, who has served at churches in the Indio and Blythe areas, as the suspected perpetrator.
- Law enforcement says the investigation is active and that detectives believe there may be other victims connected to the case.
- Anyone with information is asked to contact Colorado River Station investigators Morelock or Pfholman at 760-921-7900 to help advance the probe.
- Local reporting links this arrest to wider child-safety concerns and notes a separate Cathedral City teacher abuse case was publicized the same day, increasing scrutiny of schools, churches and local oversight.