Edinburg police have filed new charges against a local pastor already accused of abusing children. Jorge Gonzalez Martinez, 49, was out on bond for four counts of indecency with a child. Now he faces two more charges of child grooming.

The new charges came on August 25, 2026. Two more children had come forward with claims against him. Gonzalez Martinez led Iglesia Poder y Gloria, a church on South Business Highway 281 in Edinburg.

The case has grown fast since his first arrest last month. It shows how one report can lead more victims to come forward. It also raises hard questions for South Texas families who trust local pastors with their kids.

Edinburg police first arrested Gonzalez Martinez on July 27, 2026. They booked him into the Hidalgo County jail. He was charged with four counts of indecency with a child. Court records show the alleged abuse happened between March and April 2025.

One of the four counts is for indecency by exposure. The other three counts involve physical contact. A judge set his bond at $300,000 for all four charges.

Gonzalez Martinez was arraigned the next day, July 28. He stayed in jail more than a week. He posted bond and walked free on August 6.

His release came with strict rules. The court placed him in a supervised release program instead of open bond. He cannot have any contact with children. He cannot go to church. He must stay at least 1,000 feet away from places where kids gather, like schools and parks.

Then came the new charges. On August 25, prosecutors added two counts of child grooming. A judge set a new bond of $100,000 on top of the first bond. Grooming is its own crime under Texas law. It covers adults who build trust with a child to set up abuse later, even before any touching happens.

Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala said he wants the public to know about the case. He said he wants it known "if there's potentially any other victims that are out there."

Texas lawmakers added the grooming law in recent years to close a gap. Before, some adults could spend months building trust with a child. They broke no law, as long as they never touched the child. Now that build-up can be a crime on its own, on top of any other charges.

Cases like this hit hard across the Rio Grande Valley. Many families send their kids to church youth groups, camps, and Sunday classes. Pastors and church leaders often spend one-on-one time with kids in those settings. When that trust breaks, it shakes more than one family. It shakes a whole congregation.

Indecency with a child is a felony under Texas law. Depending on the count, it can mean 2 to 20 years in prison. Child grooming is also a felony charge. Both charges stay on the court docket as the case moves forward.

The case is still open in Hidalgo County. It is not clear yet when Gonzalez Martinez will face trial on either set of charges. Court dates for the new grooming counts had not been set as of this week.

Gonzalez Martinez remains free on bond as his case moves through Hidalgo County courts. He has not made any public statement about the charges. The investigation stays open, and police say more charges are possible if more victims come forward.

El Tejano will keep following this case as it moves through the courts. Families in Edinburg and across the Rio Grande Valley are watching to see what happens next.

Edinburg police are asking anyone with information to call (956) 289-7700. People can also call Edinburg Crime Stoppers at (956) 383-8477. Callers do not have to give their name.