Clergyman from Downey Church under allegations of improper conduct with a minor, stripped of duties in religious institution
In a shocking turn of events, a Downey High School teacher, Brandon Hitchcock, was arrested on charges of having a sexual relationship with a minor female student. The incident took place on April 8, 2025, in Downey, California.
Meanwhile, a separate incident unfolded at Our... Church in Downey, where immigration agents, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted operations as part of a wave of immigration raids sweeping across Southern California.
Despite extensive searches, there is no publicly available documented history of sexual misconduct allegations or arrests involving clergy from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Downey. If there are recent developments or incidents, they are not captured in these search results.
The initial advice of a possible inappropriate relationship between Brandon Hitchcock and a student(s) was given to the Downey Police Department by Downey High School officials. The investigation into these allegations was conducted by the Downey Police Department.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles confirmed that Brandon Hitchcock was also a girls track coach at Downey High School. The Archdiocese, which has a Zero-Tolerance Policy, stated that anyone found to have harmed a minor is permanently removed from any capacity in the Archdiocese.
In a completely unrelated incident, a priest named Jaime Arriaga, aged 41, was arrested last week following a report of allegations received by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Arriaga, who had been serving at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Downey since January 2024, pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual misconduct involving a minor. He is currently being held without bail.
The operations at Our... Church were carried out in full view of pastors, schoolchildren, and shocked community members. Investigators are asking for any additional possible victims to come forward.
The arraignment hearing for Brandon Hitchcock was held on Monday. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced the arrest. For any updates on this ongoing situation, it may be necessary to consult official diocesan statements, local news outlets, or law enforcement records beyond the current search scope.
- Amidst the shocking arrest of Brandon Hitchcock and the immigration raids at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, the community of Downey is encouraged to stay informed about community news, including updates on the upcoming events surrounding the ongoinglegal proceedings of both Hitchcock and Jaime Arriaga, as well as any potential crime-and-justice developments within the general-news sphere.
- As the community navigates these challenging times, it is essential to keep a close eye on local news outlets for coverage of political responses to these incidents, such as changes in school policies or legislative actions regarding immigration enforcement.
