Pastor, 2 Men Arrested For Allegedly Kidnapping, Torturing Boy As Discipline
CORONA (CBS) — Police Tuesday arrested a Corona pastor and two other men, who were accused of kidnapping and torturing a 13-year-old boy to teach him a lesson, according to police.
The case was linked to a men's group home in Corona, where a mother took her 13-year-old son for help with discipline on March 18. The home was being operated by Heart of Worship Ministry, police said.
Police arrested Nick Craig, 22; Darryll Jeter, 28; and Pastor Lonnie Remmers, 54.
Police said that Craig and Jeter took the boy to Barstow, made him dig a grave before allegedly beating him with a shovel and torturing him.
The boy was then taken to Remmers' home, where the pastor allegedly used pliers to pinch him, according to police.
"She [the boy's mother] came to the group home for guidance and, trying to straighten out her son, I guess, who was accused of molesting another kid," said Corona Police Sergeant Scott Currie.
"That's horrible. I've seen a few kids there, but not in the house. I've seen them around there, but I haven't seen them in the house," said neighbor Betty Meza.
The pastor and men remained in jail Tuesday night with their bail set at $1 million each.
Police said the boy did not need to be hospitalized.