Rick Torcise, a youth leader and Pastor at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship of Homestead, Florida, was arrested Tuesday, November 16, 2021, after claims were made that he repeatedly molested a teenage boy from his church. Torcise, age 67, entered a not guilty plea and was sentenced to a first-degree felony sexual battery charge. Torcise was released on a $10,000 bond, and the judge ordered him to stay away from the victim and any other minors. Detectives fear Torcise may have sexually abused other minors who Torcise met as youth pastor and through a youth baseball league in which he was invovled.
The arrest report states that the 17-year-old victim said he engaged in sexual acts with Ricky Torcise from June to October of this year. The boy told Miami-Dade police officers that he met Torcise at his church in June and that Torcise hired him to help out on his farm. The victim claims that he was groomed for several months while working on the farm. Finally, the teen confided to his father that Torcise repeatedly molested him and intimidated him into performing sexual acts in October. When they reported it to the Miami-Dade police, the victim stated that Torcise allegedly fondled him, rubbed his hands over the boy's thighs and buttocks over his clothing several times, and forced him to give and receive oral sex with him. The boy claimed he did so out of fear.
Detectives and the boy's attorney fear that Torcise could have groomed and abused many other boys over the years, as he hired dozens to work on his farm. Detective Argemis Colome, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, commented, "This is a person that the community trusts; this is a person that parents trust to guide their children. We're asking anybody that may have had any interaction with this individual ... this is the time to give us a call. We're very fortunate that they came forward, which is why it's very important to have that open line of communication with our children, so they can trust us in telling us when these situations are happening."
Torcise is a title trustee of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship of Homestead, a youth leader, farmer, and businessman. He was also the manager of Florida Legends Baseball. Torcise's arraignment is set for December 16.
Torcise is just one of many authority figures to face charges this year for having inappropriate actions with a minor. This is every parent's worst nightmare. Parents should feel confident that their children are safe with church officials and trust that their children will be cared for and protected from harm.
Attorney Adam Horowitz has substantial experience representing victims of sexual abuse in the church. If you have been a victim of sexual misconduct by Ricky Torcise or have any knowledge about such events at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship of Homestead, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or e-mail sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz today.