Self-proclaimed prophet claims “spirit of God” reason for alleged assault

A self-proclaimed prophet cited “the spirit of God” as the reason he might have sexually assaulted two juvenile members of his church, a police report states.

Benito Catello, 76, told detectives in a recorded interview that “if the girls said he did it, he must have,” according to the arrest report.

Catello told police he is a prophet and that God spoke to the girls through him.

“Anything that happened while he was in the company of the girls is God’s doing and he can’t be held responsible,” police summarized in the arrest report.

Las Vegas police said there could be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Two juveniles alleged to be victims have made statements, but Catello’s history suggests there might be more, police said.

“We’re confident there are other victims out there,” said Lt. John Bradshaw, of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Detail.

Catello was arrested Friday at his home at 6425 Goldmine Drive in Las Vegas, which doubles as a nondenominational Christian church called “The Ministry,” in which Catello is considered a prophet.

He was charged with 29 felonies, including sexual assault, sexual assault with a minor under 14, and lewdness with a minor under 14.

Two reported female victims, now ages 17 and 14, told police they were conditioned by Catello to never question or doubt his motives.

The 17-year-old said she moved into Catello’s house in March or April of 2008 because he told her she needed additional counseling. While living with Catello, she was coerced into sexual intercourse during a period of several months, the police report states.

She told police she initially refused, but relented after he threatened to excommunicate her family from the church. She said Catello also questioned her attitude about the church in front of the congregation.

The 17-year-old was allowed to move back home after school began in the fall, but in November, Catello demanded she live at his home every other week, the report states.

This living arrangement continued for several months, until the girl was able to convince her parents she didn’t need to live with Catello anymore. She was too ashamed and scared to report the sexual assault then, she told police.

The 14-year-old girl told police she was sexually assaulted by Catello in March 2007 while visiting her grandmother at Catello’s house. She was 12.

She told police Catello coerced her into his bedroom while her grandmother was watching television, forced her to undress, and digitally penetrated her vagina.

She didn’t tell her family because Catello threatened to reject her family from the church and that she’d “burn in hell,” she told police.

After a search warrant was issued Friday, Catello volunteered to be interviewed and consented to give a DNA sample for comparison. Items seized from Catello’s home included bedding. After he was interviewed by police, he was arrested.

Bradshaw said Catello’s congregation had between 30 and 100 members at any given time.

“He was probably befriending parents under the guise of counseling,” he said.

The church was not registered with the IRS, he said, and his followers paid for their membership.

Bradshaw said Catello was under investigation in the early ’90s on similar allegations, but there wasn’t enough evidence to make an arrest. The earlier investigation isn’t strong enough to be included in this case, he said.

Catello is receiving medical treatment at a hospital for undisclosed reasons, but he is in custody, Bradshaw said.

The two juveniles and their families, who made statements to police only recently, are doing OK, “considering the circumstances,” he said.

“You have to be careful where you leave your kids, and who you leave them with,” Bradshaw said. “A religious organization, a school, relatives — you just can’t tell. It doesn’t happen often, but it can happen anywhere.”

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.