‘Prominent’ staff member at Orange County church arrested on child sex abuse allegations

An Irvine man described by authorities as a “prominent staff member” of an Orange County church was arrested last week following allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl multiple times over the span of a decade.

Michael Robert Maxwell, 42, was arrested after the Irvine Police Department launched an investigation into allegations of child sex abuse that occurred at a home on Whitecloud, a residential street located near South Lake.

According to Irvine police, the investigation is a partnership with Child Protective Services.

Maxwell has been booked into the Orange County Jail where he awaits several child sex abuse charges, including oral copulation, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and continuous sexual abuse of a child.

Authorities say Maxwell was staff member at Redeemer Church of Orange County in Newport Beach. On Wednesday, his photo was released to local media out of concern there may be additional victims.

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is urged to contact Irvine Police Department Detective Vincent Vasquez by email.