‘Faith Healer’ Charged With Rape, Swindling

Oswaldo Cardonas called himself a curandero , a self-styled faith healer and practitioner of folk medicine. But authorities charged Wednesday that he was a “victimizer,” who used rituals and a dominating personality to rape, commit lewd acts and steal from members of one family.

Cardonas, 42, is to be arraigned Friday in Compton Superior Court on 4 counts of grand theft, 11 counts of rape, 9 counts of lewd acts on a child and 16 counts of digital penetration.

The district attorney’s office said authorities are looking for more “possible victims” of Cardonas, 42, of East Los Angeles, a native of Mexico, who is jailed without bail.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Sindee Kain-Kerker said the nine known victims, ranging in age from 9 to 65, gave thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry and personal property to Cardonas for “cleansing.” Family members were involved in candle-lit examination rituals during which women and children were asked to disrobe and then were raped and molested by Cardonas, she said.