Elgin, Illinois, Pastor Accused of Sexual Assault and Battery in Church Member’s Lawsuit

A northwest suburban pastor is facing a lawsuit from a church member who alleges months of sexual harassment, defamation, and eventual excommunication by the pastor. The legal action was filed against Manfred Malagon, his wife, the United Pentecostal Church International, and the International Christian Fellowship in Cook County Circuit Court. The International Christian Fellowship operates from 240 Standish Street in Elgin and is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International.

The lawsuit claims that in March, Malagon began sending the woman lewd text messages, including images of monkey and dog genitalia and a naked woman. He also offered to send nude photos of himself and requested nude photos and videos from the woman. The harassment escalated when, a few months later, Malagon allegedly sexually assaulted the woman by kissing, hugging, and fondling her under a set of stairs in the church. The suit states that this unwanted behavior occurred repeatedly during her visits for services on Thursdays and Sundays. On another occasion, Malagon allegedly forced her into a room, touched her sexually, and pressed his hips against her body.

In May, Malagon excommunicated the woman and her family from the church, but the lewd text messages continued. The lawsuit alleges that Malagon repeatedly told the woman to delete the inappropriate messages. Later, he made a video call in which he told her to leave her husband and claimed he “dreamed” of being with her. During a sermon, Malagon called the woman a “prostitute” and “witch,” according to the lawsuit. He also told other pastors and church members that the woman was trying to seduce him and that they had a sexual relationship. The pastor’s wife, Sarai Malagon, made a false statement to another church member that her husband and the woman had engaged in sexual relations, which was then published and broadcasted.

In September, Malagon told other church members that the woman was “seducing all the men in the church” and that she had sexual relations with her husband’s sister. The lawsuit states that he had other congregation members confront the woman, telling her not to talk about what Malagon had done to her. If she made public claims, Malagon allegedly threatened to deport her sister. From March to September, the woman repeatedly texted and confronted Malagon, asking him to stop the assaults and harassment. She confided in a pastor and bishop at the church, but they refused to intervene.

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