California Pastor Tom Daniels Who Was Proponent Of Proposition 8 Arrested On Multiple Charges Of Sexual Child Molestation

The Sacramento Bee reports that the pastor of the Rio Linda Baptist Church continues to be held in Sacramento County Main Jail on a $6 million bail where he has remained since December 9th, charged with multiple counts of sexual child molestation. Citrus Heights Police announced the arrest late Thursday, Lieutenant Ray Bechler saying that police postponed publicizing the arrest of 48 year old Tom Gene Daniels while they continued their investigation into the case. Daniels, an active proponent of Proposition 8 who donated substantial amounts of money to the anti-gay ProtectMarriage.com, has been employed as a foster parent and a day care provider, in addition to acting as the head pastor of the Rio Linda Baptist Church. Bechler said that the charges against Daniels involve incidents that allegedly took place between June, 2004 and June, 2007, the initial complaint investigated in 2008, but at which time the district attorney could not come up with enough evidence to file charges. Bechler added that in recent months, another victim came forward, and the district attorney filed charges December 9th, Daniels arrested later that day. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, but it has been continued to January 20th. The Modesto Bee, meanwhile, reports that Saturday the Rio Linda Baptist Church board released a statement supporting Daniels, the statement in part reading “Until such time as the courts prove Pastor Tom Daniels guilty, we have an obligation to support him and his family,” adding that the accusations against Daniels need to be tried in court, not the media.