Southpinellas: Minister faces assault charges

SEMINOLE - Wisconsin authorities have filed sexual assault charges against a local pastor, the Rev. Angel Toro, who resigned from Chapel on the Hill United Church of Christ a few days ago.

Toro, 56, is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in 1987, when he was a minister with the United Methodist Church in Wisconsin.

Chris Fitzgerald, a detective with the Rice Lake Police Department in Wisconsin, said investigations into the allegations began in late 2005.

The complaint alleges that Toro assaulted the teenager twice at First United Methodist Church in Rice Lake, about two hours from Minneapolis.

Toro has been charged with four counts of sexual assault and two counts of child enticement. Reached on his cell phone, Toro said his lawyers had advised him not to comment.

Bruce Denson, his attorney, said Toro is devastated. "It's a false allegation," he said.

Douglas Guillen, 37, says he is the victim. Times policy generally is to withhold the names of victims of sex crimes. In this case, Guillen consented to being identified.

The construction worker, who lives in Broward County, said he met Toro when the minister hired him to do odd jobs.

In 1997, Toro left the Methodist church and became a United Church of Christ minister and Chapel on the Hill's pastor.

The Rev. Jack Richards of the United Church of Christ Florida Conference said the denomination learned of a Pinellas investigation of Toro on Jan. 22. Toro resigned from Chapel on the Hill and the denomination March 19.

Richards said the denomination's investigation found no wrongdoing locally. The Pinellas Sheriff's Office has closed its investigation.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show that police arrested Toro for indecent exposure in 1994. He pleaded no contest.

Times researcher Angie Drobnic Holan contributed to this report. Waveney Ann Moore can be reached at 727 892-2283 or wmoore@sptimes.com.

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by Tricia	05/31/07 11:02 AM
Well,Toro (aka jdb) learn to read! You were there, not to mention Wilton Manor is a prominent gay community. Enough said, see you in court.

by jdb	05/30/07 10:00 PM
MySpace.com...get real. There is a Court Document showing there are no records at the appropriate court. How's about the extortion demands for a cool million from two places?? What say You??

by Linda	05/30/07 03:50 PM
I just checked that "myspace" and IT WAS THERE! What a sad thing that happened to this family.Even if the perp paid a million bucks,it wouldn't be worth their suffering.My God, SODOMY!?! Everyone should read it.SAD!!! www.myspace.com/pastorangeltoro

by Tricia	05/30/07 10:47 AM
I did check the FDLE and paid 23.00 for the record. Google his name and look at the myspace page. Official document is there. Still in doubt? Pay the 23.00 and see for yourself!

by jdb	05/29/07 03:48 PM
I appreciate the bible verse by Tricia but she ought to find one that fits a possible extortion attempt of a million dollars from Toro and later the church conference by the "victim." Also, Check the records of FDLE.."NO SUCH RECORD"

by Tricia	05/28/07 09:47 PM
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which beleive in me, it were better for him a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea... Mathew 18:6

by jdb	05/26/07 09:06 PM
Toro is not guilty. Catholics have paid out large sums of money. Any report of claims for money from Toro or the UCC Conference been made by alleged victim?

by Diocles	05/07/07 10:07 PM
JC, be shocked because he is GUILTY! I was when he raped me!!!!!!!!! That @!_/*@#%!$^%&%$#

by Tricia	05/01/07 10:39 AM
How far back does it go with The First United Methodist Church? I know of several Victoms Rice Lake Wi. and Lake Placid, Florida. I am sure of Waukishau, Wi. You know the Church must have known and that it why they moved him around so much.

by manny	04/30/07 10:57 PM
It is very sad that The United Metodist church Knowing all about his background Allowed him to go on with hisbehavior and didn't do any thing about it, shame on them.

by Tricia	04/27/07 07:20 PM
UPDATE! Angel Toro faced the Judge. He has been released on bond. Angel Toro has been ordered not to be around boys under the age of 18, alone. If so, this will be a violation of his release.

by Robert	04/20/07 07:07 PM
To Josh;Toro's friends may well be upstanding and outgoing people in the community. BUT, why would you assume that he is, also? Suppose, for a moment that it was YOUR son making the allegations against him. Have you discussed this with YOUR son?

by jc	04/06/07 08:08 PM
I attended his church while living in the St. Petersburg area. He used to have a church in our area and was well respected. I am shocked and hope he is not guilty

by Betty	03/31/07 02:35 PM
No one is above reproach! Just because he wears a clean robe doesn't mean he wears a clean heart. Why don't we all just leave this up to the courts? It just worries me that he was once arrested, before and pled "no contest."What is that all about?

by Lee	03/30/07 09:25 PM
I feel bad that our ccurch is going through all this.Angel has been a great pastor for us.I pray that he can come back to our church or some one elses.We don't want to lose such a GOOD PASTOR.

by Tricia	03/30/07 06:23 PM
Out of a congregation of 500, it's a good thing he has the four of you. I must say, AMEN!

by Tricia	03/30/07 05:53 PM
Read the last paragraph of the article again. Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show that police arrested Toro for indecent exposure in 1994. He pleaded no contest. You are like sheep being lead to the slaughter. Will pray 4 you!

by Josh	03/30/07 05:13 PM
Toro is above reproach and is the victim in this case. Moneygrubbers, powermongers,and the easily misled have prayed upon him (and not in a godly way). Toro's friends are the upstanding,outstanding people in this community! False "Doris" be gone!

by Joy	03/30/07 01:28 PM
Angel is truely a remarkable person and should not have had to go thru this. He has done nothing but serve the Lord and His people with honor. "Others" who question him will face God someday. And we will all look down on them from above, with smiles!

by Missy	03/30/07 01:26 PM
Pastor Toro does not need anyone else bringing pain into his life. He is a kind, caring man and our family loves him and stands by him. "Georgito" and I are blessed to have him around us and NO ONE deserves what has been done to him! GOD BLESS TORO!

by Jean	03/29/07 09:10 PM
Pastor Toro is going through enough without "Doris" insulting Jim Rexroad. Jim is a wonderful person, as is Pastor Toro. Give it a rest and let him get on with clearing his name. "Doris" sounds like a bitter person.

by Doris	03/29/07 09:03 PM
This is the REAL Doris. Angel Toro is a friend of mine and no flight risk. I find it funny that a person who discredits him is too big of a coward to use their own name. I don't need 3 guesses to know who this was. Shame on you. He's a good man.

by Anita	03/29/07 07:30 PM
He is not GUILTY until proven guilty. Please pray for him as God will do the right thing.

by Doris	03/29/07 05:18 AM
Police should arrest now. He could very well be a flight risk. He has the money and capabilities to flee to Puerto Rico, his home area. This "man" should not be allowed to have the chance to leave the area. He also has police friend Jim Rexroad