An 81-year-old pastor who sexually assaulted a Moreno Valley girl was sentenced Friday to 10 years to life in state prison.
David Lee Helbling of Moreno Valley pleaded guilty in April to kidnapping to commit rape and lewd acts on a child under 14 years old under a pretrial agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dropped four related charges against Helbling.
During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday, Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Martinez, deputies were informed at the end of January 2024 of an attack on the victim, identified in court documents only as “E.A.,” in the 23000 block of Hemlock Avenue, near Pigeon Pass Road.
The ensuing investigation led to the identification of Helbling, a local minister, as the perpetrator.
Martinez said that a search warrant was obtained and served at the defendant’s residence, where “evidence related to the crime was collected, and Helbling was taken into custody without incident.”
Court papers indicated the defendant committed the offenses all on the same day — Jan. 30, 2024.
“In connection with the commission of the offenses, Helbling … kidnapped the victim, and the movement of the victim substantially increased the risk of harm,” according to the criminal complaint. “The defendant resided in the same home, and had recurring access (to her) with the intent of arousing, appealing to and gratifying (his) lust, passions and sexual desires.”
No other details were disclosed, including the exact relationship between the defendant and victim, or the house of worship where Helbling had presided.
He had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.