A man from South Bay, Norlan Macias, has been accused of molesting teenage children at his home during church outings, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. He faces 11 felony charges related to sexual molestation of five minors, aged 8 to 17 years.
The case against Macias started in 2020 when a retired San Jose police officer recognized him from a podcast called “Preacher Boys,” which discusses child abuse associated with religious groups. The officer alerted authorities, leading to an investigation.
Macias allegedly took teenage members of the North Valley Baptist Church on outings to Lake Anderson in Morgan Hill, and then to his home in Morgan Hill, where the alleged molestations occurred.
During the investigation, a detective discovered a 2013 report from a minor who claimed Macias had also molested him after hiring him for home maintenance. That earlier case had been closed due to lack of cooperation from the victim.
Macias, who worked as a janitor in the Campbell Union and Mountain View school districts, is accused of offenses spanning from 2001 to 2012. Authorities are urging anyone else who may have been victimized by Macias to come forward.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen expressed gratitude to the retired police officer for his vigilance in protecting children, emphasizing the community’s responsibility to safeguard its youth. If convicted, Macias could face a life sentence in prison.