Ministry 'apostle' tried for molestation

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ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Jury selection began in Florida Monday for the trial of a self-proclaimed "apostle" accused of sexually abusing children he made "prophets" in his ministry.

The trial of Luis "Tito" Morales, 57, of Ormand Beach is taking place in U.S. District Court in Orlando.

He and his wife Linda formed the "En Fuego for Jesus" ("On Fire for Jesus") ministry in their home, and used it to groom a 12-year-old girl for sex with Morales, telling her she needed to "service him" as "the Apostle," a transcript of a May 17 initial appearance hearing reads.

Morales took the child to Connecticut and allegedly molested her there, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Monday.

Prosecutors say other children were molested at the Ormond Beach home.

Morales, who allegedly tried to recruit children from several Latin American countries, is also accused of molesting another child he had taken on trips to Arizona and the Virgin Islands in a Tampa, Fla., hotel.

Prosecutors in Orlando also charged Rebeca Rivera, 27, a self-proclaimed En Fuego prophet, with helping transport one of the children, court documents said.