Arraignment for Church Teacher Accused of Molestation Rescheduled

The arraignment for a Costa Mesa man, who volunteers as a Sunday school teacher and was arrested on suspicion of child molestation, was rescheduled today, the Orange County district attorney's office reported.

Forty-eight-year-old Christopher Bryan McKenzie, Sr. of Costa Mesa, is facing 10 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old, four felony counts of using a minor for the distribution of obscene matter and two felony counts of distributing pornography to a minor with sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and committing lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old against more than one victim, the D.A.'s office reported.

If convicted McKenzie faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.

McKenzie is accused of molesting one boy from 1996 through 2002, another from 2005 through 2007, the third alleged victim from 2009 through 2011 and the fourth from 2010 through this year, Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Herrera said.

Newport Beach police spokeswoman Kathy Lowe said McKenzie was arrested Friday after two men came forward and said McKenzie had an inappropriate sexual relationship with them over a period of many years when they were between the ages of eight and 16.

McKenzie works as a pool cleaner servicing locations throughout the Orange County area and is also a volunteer Sunday school teacher at ROCKHARBOR Church in Costa Mesa. Police say no members of the church have come forward with allegations of abuse by McKenzie.

McKenzie was being held without bail at the Orange County Jail. He will return to court on Dec. 21.

The Newport Beach Police Department says anyone who may have been a victim of inappropriate contact with McKenzie, or have any information related to the case, should call NBPD Det. Freeman at 949-644-3776, or NBPD Det. Carpentieri at 949-644-3772, or (800) 550-NBPD. Anonymous messages will be accepted.

-City News Service contributed to this report.