Trial Begins for Son of Pastor Accused of Molesting Church Members

Opening arguments in the molestation trial of the son of a Lake Forest pastor will begin Thursday.

Branden Edward Shumate, 37, formerly of Laguna Niguel, is accused of molesting two young girls who he met while working as an assistant at his father’s Shekinah Fellowship Church. The crimes allegedly occurred in Lake Forest and Dana Point. Shumate is charged with three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14 with a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing lewd acts upon multiple victims. If convicted, Shumate faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Shumate befriended the families of two young girls through the church.

In 1997, when he was 18, Shumate allegedly organized a church trip to an Irvine water park. Prosecutors allege he molested a six-year-old girl, who had fallen asleep at the church while waiting for the other children to arrive for the fieldtrip.

The child did not report the alleged crime at the time.

In 2003, when the girl was 12, Shumate helped her family move.

“During the move, the defendant is accused of driving in a vehicle alone with the victim behind her family’s moving truck,” the Orange County District Attorney’s Office maintained in a written release. “The defendant is accused of pulling into an empty parking lot and forcing Jane Doe 1 to orally copulate him.”

The girl did not report the attack until she told a family member and friend in 2006 after Shumate allegedly tried to contact her.

In 2010, Shumate is accused of trying to engage in a sexually explicit conversation with a 10-year-old girl. Her family moved into Shumate’s family home, and one day, while home alone with the girl, prosecutors allege he walked in on her in the shower and sexually assaulted her. She did not tell her mother about the alleged incident until 2011 after her family had moved out of state.

Shortly after that, Shumate was extradited to Orange County from his home in Hawaii, and he as been held at the Orange County jail on $1 million bail.

He could not be reached for comment. However his supporters claim he is innocent and has been wrongly accused.

Related:

Another Youth Pastor Accused of Molesting Teen Congregants

Lake Forest Youth Pastor Suspected in Multiple Rapes

Pastor Convicted of Molesting 5 Young Boys From His Congregation