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Church Choir Director Arrested For Sex Crimes In Montclair


MONTCLAIR (CBS) — A choir director of a Southland church was arrested Sunday after being caught with an under aged girl.

According to Montclair police, Mark Michaels of Upland was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center on charges of oral copulation and lewd and lavivious acts with a child.

Mark Michaels
(credit: California Department Of Motor Vehicles)

Early Sunday morning, Michaels, 53,  was found with the teenaged girl inside a vehicle, according to Montclair police. An officer reportedly observed innapropriate sexual activity. When the vehicle tried to drive away, police conducted a traffic stop and found Michaels and the girl in the car, officials said.

After an investigation, authorities determined that Michaels and the girl, 15, knew each other from their church. Investigators say the girl was a member of the church's choir and she had known Michaels for two years. The teen was later remanded to her parents.

At the time of Michaels arrest, he was the part-time choir director at Bethany Baptist Church in Montclair. He was fired Sunday night by church elders.

Michaels is being held on a $50,000 bail. He will make his first court appearance Tuesday.

Investigators are trying to determine if there are additional victims.

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