Former Virginia megachurch pastor Geronimo “Pastor G” Aguilar, has been convicted of sexually assaulting two underage girls in the 1990s. The conviction carries the potential for a sentence of life in prison.
The Christian Post reports the pastor was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of sexual assault of a child under 17 and two counts of indecency with a child.
The assaults occurred in Fort Worth, Texas, when the girls were 11 and 13 years old.
Aguilar’s attorney, Thomas Pavlinic, said he plans to appeal the decision, but prosecutor Eric Nickols said he would do everything he could to keep the pastor behind bars.
Aguilar was the lead pastor of the Richmond Outreach Center (ROC) church, a Richmond megachurch that saw 10,000 regular attendees at the height of his leadership.
The church has now been renamed the Celebration Church and Outreach Ministry and is searching for a new lead pastor.
The church staff said in a statement, "This is a time for us, as a church, to respond in prayer, especially for the victims who have suffered deeply. We are doing that. The church is stronger than the actions of any one individual.”
"As a church, Celebration Church and Outreach Ministry, is moving forward and asking God to help us act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him. We intend to stay focused on our mission to be a place of redemption and hope for the people in the city of Richmond and beyond.”
Publication date: June, 2015