A Eustis pastor has bonded out of jail Tuesday night after he was arrested Monday for sexual battery.
Pastor Pedro Custodio, 44, known as “Pastor Pete” is accused of having sex with women who stayed at a homeless shelter he owned and operated.
Custodio owns and operated “Our Father’s House of Refugee Ministries” – a shelter that provides housing for the less fortunate and homeless community – that has since moved out of the home.
Three women have come forward saying the pastor sexually battered them. One of the instances allegedly happened at a now former food pantry, according to the affidavit. The report said Pastor Pete asked a woman to help him move some boxes, then locked the door behind him, and proceeded to rape her.
Moses Robbins is pastor at a church across the street and let Custodio use his church to worship instead of the rundown home.
“They were having services there in the driveway at night with the bugs and everything and he would preach and all that and we didn’t want that to be,” said Robbins.
A neighbor said Custodio was popular and well liked. “When he’s here on a Sunday there’s the whole grass area and the street is full and he has quite a following and a lot of them are young people.”
Custodio admitted to having sex with the women, but he told investigators it was consensual.
Eustis Police is looking for additional victims. If you know anything you are asked to call the agency at 352-483-5400 and ask for Detective Corporal Danielle Schmidt.
Custodio is out of jail on bond.