(OSV News) — An Oregon parish music minister has been arrested as part of an undercover child predator sting, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s office.
Sean Baba, the director of music ministry at St. Pius X Parish in Portland, was one of six men taken into custody April 13 by the sheriff’s office. Investigators posed as underage boys and girls on a number of online dating platforms and social media sites. The suspects contacted the profiles and offered to meet in person for sex. Authorities arrested the men upon arrival.
Baba, 29, was the oldest of those arrested, with the other suspects ranging in age from 19 to 27. All were charged with the felony crimes of luring a minor and online sexual corruption of a child in the first degree.
In an April 13 press release, the sheriff’s office stated that St. Pius X Parish and its school “were notified of his arrest and have fully cooperated with the investigation.”
Baba’s LinkedIn page lists a number of music ministry assignments at various Catholic parishes, schools and organizations, some of them concurrent.
According to his online resume, Baba has served at St. Pius X since November 2019. Other positions listed are choral section leader at St. Monica Catholic Community in Santa Monica, California, from November 2017 to November 2019; accompanist at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Los Angeles from April 2017 to November 2019; “teaching artist” at the SOL-LA Music Academy in Santa Monica from September 2016 to November 2019; accompanist at Nativity Catholic Church in Torrance, California, from June 2016 to November 2019; and piano instructor at Loyola High School of Los Angeles from June 2018 to July 2019.
The LinkedIn page also notes a volunteer teacher’s aide position at the Braille Institute of America from January 2011 to January 2012. Baba states on the page that he is a 2016 graduate of Loyola Marymount University and a 2012 graduate of Loyola High School of Los Angeles.
OSV News has contacted St. Pius X pastor Father Sean Weeks and the Archdiocese of Portland for comment and is awaiting a response.
Washington County Sheriffs are concerned there may be additional victims of the six suspects and have asked anyone with additional information to call the sheriff’s office at 503-846-2700.
MORE TO COME
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Gina Christian is a national reporter for OSV News. Follow her on Twitter at @GinaJesseReina.
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