[Eustis, FL] –On July 14, 2014, Pedro L. Custodio, also known as “Pastor Pete” was arrested by the City of Eustis Police Department and charged with two counts of sexual battery and one count of attempted sexual battery. Custodio was booked into the Lake County Jail, Tavares, FL. His bail was set at $30,000.
Custodio owns and operates a faith-based shelter, “Our Father’s House of Refugee Ministries, Inc., located in the City of Eustis. The shelter provides housing for the needy and homeless community. In May 2014, a former female resident of Our Father’s House of Refugee reported to the Eustis Police Department she had been sexually battered by Custodio. During the course of the Eustis Police Department’s investigation, two additional female victims, who were also former residents of Our Father’s House of Refugee, were identified and interviewed. All three victims alleged that while they were residents of Our Father’s House of Refugee, Custodio exploited them by gaining their trust and then coercing or attempting to coerce them into having sexual relations with him. When interviewed by the police, Custodio admitted he had engaged or attempted to engage in sexual relations with all three victims; however, he stated all of the sexual encounters were consensual.
Because of the nature of these allegations, the Eustis Police Department is asking anyone who may have additional information concerning similar incidents involving Custodio to please contact Detective Corporal Danielle Schmidt with the Eustis Police Department at 352-483-5400.
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