A religious leader associated with a “shamanistic community” in Southern California has been charged with rape, child sexual abuse, and other sex crimes after multiple victims came forward with allegations.
Ricardo Flores, 59, has been accused by several alleged survivors of sexual assault as of August 1, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities describe Flores as the religious leader of a shamanistic community that operates at various locations throughout the county. He resides in Moreno Valley, about an hour outside of Los Angeles.
Flores was arrested by investigators on the morning of August 7 at 8:30 a.m. as he returned to the United States from Mexico. He was subsequently booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center and now faces five felony charges, including rape by force/fear, aggravated child sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, lewd acts with a minor, and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, as per booking records.
Law enforcement officials believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with further information to contact the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station lead investigator.
Shamanism is defined as “a religion practiced by indigenous peoples of far northern Europe and Siberia characterized by belief in an unseen world of gods, demons, and ancestral spirits responsive only to the shamans,” according to Merriam-Webster.
The sheriff’s department has not provided details on the specific shamanistic community with which Flores is associated.
Flores is scheduled to appear in court on Friday at 8 a.m.
