Oceanside Pastor Accused of Sex With Minor Murrieta Girl

The award-winning lead pastor of an Oceanside church has been arrested on suspicion of having unlawful sex with a minor Murrieta girl.

Matthias Anderson, 41, of Hemet, was arrested at 7:45 a.m. today near the victim's Murrieta residence as he allegedly arrived to pick up the victim, said Murrieta police Sgt. Phil Gomez, in a news release.

Anderson was being held at Southwest Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records.

The sergeant believes Anderson, president and lead pastor of New Wine Ministries International in Oceanside, met the juvenile victim through the church two years ago. 

The victim and her mother attended the church, Gomez said.

"The [alleged] sexual relationship began approximately two years ago and occurred multiple times in both Riverside and San Diego counties," Gomez said.

Based on the investigation, detectives suspect there is a possibility of additional victims in the Oceanside area.   

A bio page on the church website says Anderson is married and the father of six.

In 2002, Anderson, a Marine sergeant, received the City of Oceanside’s Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Award.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation was asked to call Sgt. Phil Gomez at 951-461-6356 or Detective John Therien at 951-461-6346. After hours, the on-duty watch commander can be contacted at 951-696-3615.