Visalia church member accused of molesting a child

Friday, September 12, 2014
Visalia church member accused of molesting a child
Daniel Sisk is now being held at the Tulare County Jail. Investigators say he molested the young victim at a local church.

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- The community in Visalia feels betrayed by a member of their own congregation who is now accused of molesting a child.

Visalia police have arrested a 34-year-old man for sexually abusing a child under ten years old.

Daniel Sisk is now being held at the Tulare County Jail. Investigators say he molested the young victim at a local church.

According to his pastor Brandon Hall the 34-year-old worshipped at The Road Church in Visalia and also volunteered to work with kids there. Now the pastor is stunned Sisk is suspected of molesting a young girl.

"From the church community it really shocks our conscious because there are things that are just not supposed to happen in life. Kids are so vulnerable," said Hall.

Investigators were tipped off last month when the victim's family came forward.

"We asked the suspect to come down and provide a statement on yesterday's date September 11th and as a result of the investigation including the defendant's statement he was arrested for child molestation," said Sgt. Damon Maurice.

Hall says Sisk was studying at The College of the Sequoias to become a pre-school teacher. "If you look at him on paper he is the ideal person to have volunteer in your kids area because that's his passion," added Hall.

The pastor says anyone working with kids is required to pass a background check and follow the buddy system so they are never alone with a child.

"He was fully aware of those policies and he chose to break that policy," said Hall.

Police say Sisk also volunteered at Central Valley Christian Preschool and Growing in Grace Preschool. They say parents at both locations received a letter alerting them of the arrest.

Investigators do not believe there are any other victims but they're not ruling that out as possibility. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Visalia Police.