Fairfield pastor arrested on child molestation allegations

A well-known pastor of a Fairfield church was arrested last night on suspicion of molesting at least five children in incidents dating back as far as 1994, police said.

The Rev. Robert “Silas” Ruark, 65, of St. Timothy Orthodox Church in Fairfield was taken into custody at his Suisun City home after a daylong investigation into the allegations made by the victims, who are all adults now, police said.

The Fairfield Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit was contacted by clergy of the diocese of the local church after officials there learned of the alleged molestations, authorities said.

The diocese provided the names of potential victims that were believed to have been molested by Ruark and asked that an investigation be conducted. The diocese pledged its full cooperation, according to police.

Detectives worked the case throughout the day into the evening hours interviewing victims and witnesses tied to the case. The Solano District Attorney’s Office worked with detectives, police said.

The victims, who range in age from 20 to 24, all identified Ruark as having committed lewd acts upon them when they were juveniles as young as 13. In some cases, police said, Ruark photographed the victims in a nude state. The majority of the molestation incidents occurred at the church, and when the victims were left alone with Ruark, they said.

Police said Ruark was arrested without incident around 9:45 p.m. and a search of his home in the 1400 block of Spence Court was conducted. They did not say what, if any, evidence was collected at the home.

Ruark was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of multiple charges of molestation.

Ruark was ordained in 1997 and has been pastor at St. Timothy since, according to an interview he gave The Reporter upon the church’s 10th anniversary in 2004.

Police say they are still trying to indentify any other potential victims in the case and ask that anyone with information that may help identify victims, or victims of Ruark themselves, contact the Fairfield Police Department Investigations Bureau at 428-7600, or the 24-hour Tip Line at 428-7345.

For more detail, see Saturday’s print and online editions of The Reporter.