A Santa Ana pastor was sentenced Friday to 45 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting three girls he met through churches in Riverside, Garden Grove and Santa Ana.

Carlos Ramirez Valdez, 61, was convicted Sept. 8 of seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a minor younger than 14 and three counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 or younger, all felonies. Jurors also found true a sentencing enhancement for multiple victims.

Valdez was given credit for 1,723 days behind bars and was ordered to register as a sex offender.

Valdez was pastor of International Mission Church USA at 505 S. Main St., police said. From 2014-17, he was a member of Iglesia De Dios Ebenezer Church at 2020 W. Chestnut Ave. in Santa Ana, police said.

At that church he lured an 8-year

See Full Page