Appeals Court Upholds Pretrial Detention of Pastor Charged With Abusing Children at Foundation in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic

A Court of Appeals in San Cristóbal on Thursday upheld the three-month pretrial detention imposed on Ángel Capellán, known as “el Pastor,” who is charged with physical and psychological abuse and human trafficking of several minors at the Restaurando Vidas Foundation, located in the municipality of Bajos de Haina. The court rejected an appeal filed by the defense. The decision included the dissenting vote of one of the judges. Pretrial detention is a coercive measure, not a conviction, and the charges remain allegations that have not been proven in court.

Capellán, who is described as the foundation’s director, was arrested during a judicial and police operation that led to the rescue of the alleged victims. The operation was triggered after one of the minors being held managed to escape and alerted authorities at a police station to the serious abuses to which the children were allegedly subjected, a step that brought protection to children at risk (Psalm 82:3).

The court details that, during an operation carried out on the night of August 29 to 30, 2026, the Public Ministry, together with other agencies, conducted simultaneous raids in the La Pared and El Carril sectors of Los Bajos de Haina, San Cristóbal province. The operation rescued 13 boys, girls, and adolescents, aged between four months and thirteen years. The minors showed clear signs of physical and psychological abuse. According to the court’s account, the raided center operated under the facade of a foundation and a religious space, located inside a farm.

Capellán, also identified as Ángel Gabriel Capellán, was ordered held under a three-month coercive measure of detention. Co-defendant Isaías Ramón Muñoz Rodríguez was ordered to post an economic guarantee of RD$20,000, report periodically, and not leave the country.

The case file submitted by the Public Ministry alleges that, in addition to systematic abuse, the defendants, including Muñoz Rodríguez, forced the boys, girls, and adolescents to perform forced labor within the facilities.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)