Richmond Church Volunteer & Alleged Child R*pist Not A Drag Queen
Richmond Police arrested 37-year-old Miguel Angel Villalobos for *allegedly sexually assaulting a minor. A number of additional victims may go on record, according to investigators. The predator *allegedly sourced his victims from the multiple Bay Area churches where he worked, including Queen of All Saints Church in Concord and Saint Clement Church in Hayward. The spree may have begun as early as 2010 when he first assimilated into the local Christian community. Curiously, the long-running church volunteer and *alleged serial rapist is not a drag queen.
Officers say the initial victim came forward on March 21st, kicking off the investigation. Villalobos *allegedly perpetrated his assaults at the East Bay churches where he taught music lessons to children. The first report came from a victim who attended Saint Cornelius Church in Richmond. Authorities booked the *alleged child rapist on June 21st. Upon arrest, Villalobos was not wearing a wig, pumps, glitter or an extra-large dress.
As Villalobosโ victims identify themselves, it will become clear that the church, not drag, provided him a path to *alleged predation. This isnโt to suggest he had accomplices or even somebody acting as a pipeline, though it happens. Sex crimes often involve collaborators, people willing to corroborate a predatorโs good character. Someone, many perhaps, knew this was happening.
Anyone with information is urged to reach Detective Terry Thomas of the Richmond Police Department over email or by calling 510-621-1746.
Time is not on Villalobosโ side. In the case of some victims, the *alleged rape and assaults continued into adulthood. As they repair what Villalobos broke and regain their rightful selfhoods, the power to speak about their experiences will return. It will be interesting to see whether any of their reports will contain references to false eyelashes or Donna Summer. Meanwhile, may Villalobosโ arrest give all his victims some sense of closure. A good and self-assured adulthood is still within their reach. Villalobosโ life is effectively over.
Sexual assault is a theft of autonomy. It feels like youโve been mugged of your right to exist. Iโve never felt that way at a drag show. If it happened to you, it can be liberating to watch somebody who exists on the margins own themselves. A drag queenโs ebullience can feel like moisturizer on cracked skin. They remain a cornerstone of the queer community, serving brilliance and pure agency. Miguel Villalobos remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility for his *alleged crimes, serving nothing but time.
* Legalities and such. Not diminishing Villalobosโ impact. Please donโt sue us.