Benjamin Garate
Introduction
Benjamin Garate, 72, the former senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Montrose in western Colorado, was arrested on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 on suspicion of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, according to jail records and an announcement from his former church. The Montrose Daily Press reported he is also suspected of child abuse and another sex crime whose nature suggests he knew the alleged victim independently of his role at the church. Formal charges had not yet been filed when he was booked, and it was not immediately known whether Garate has an attorney. Calvary Chapel Montrose says he is no longer employed by the church and has been removed from all pastoral duties and leadership responsibilities.
Background Information
Garate led Calvary Chapel Montrose, an evangelical congregation in Montrose, Colorado, as a senior pastor. The church’s board identified him in its public statement as its senior pastor and said his arrest had “devastated” the board members. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office booking photo of Garate accompanied the local coverage. Because formal charges were still pending at the time of the arrest, the full set of allegations and the identity of the investigating agency had not been made public in the initial reports.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Arrested, not charged. Garate was booked on suspicion of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust; no formal charges had been filed at the time of reporting, and the allegations are unproven.
The arrest took place on October 21, 2026, and became public the same day through jail records and the church’s statement. In addition to the suspicion of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust — the Colorado charge that applies when an offender’s role of trust over a child is part of the alleged crime — the Daily Press reported Garate is suspected of child abuse and a further sex offense, the nature of which indicates the alleged victim knew him outside his pastoral role as well.
Public Reaction and Consequences
Calvary Chapel Montrose moved within a day to cut him off completely: the board’s statement said Garate “is no longer employed by the church and has been removed from all pastoral duties and church leadership responsibilities.” The statement was blunt about the church’s position: “We condemn sexual abuse in every form. We have zero tolerance for sexual abuse, exploitation, or the misuse of spiritual authority. Such conduct is fundamentally contrary to our Christian beliefs and our responsibility to protect the vulnerable.” The board added that its “foremost concern is for the victim and her safety, privacy and well-being,” and that its “hearts are shattered because of the harm she has suffered.”
The reference to the alleged victim as “her,” and the board’s phrase “the affected families,” are the only identifying details the church’s statement offered. Local coverage carried the booking photograph from the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office.
Current Status
As of the latest reporting, Garate remains arrested on suspicion with formal charges pending; no charging documents, court dates, or bond information had been published, and no attorney for him was known. The church has completed its own severance of ties. The criminal process — filing of charges by the district attorney, advisement, and any preliminary hearing — remains ahead.
Impact on Their Career/Life
A 72-year-old pastor’s lifetime of ministry ends with a booking photo: the church that employed him has already stripped his title, duties, and employment, and the “position of trust” allegation places the alleged crime inside the very authority he held. For Calvary Chapel Montrose, the arrest forced the kind of public statement congregations dread — condemning abuse “in every form” while acknowledging harm to a child connected to their own pulpit — and the congregation’s trust now must be rebuilt by the board that fired him.