Former Youth Pastor Sentenced to 3 Years

By Kevin Taylor
Wetumpka Herald
August 2, 2012

http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/news/article_d4157604-dca9-11e1-a1e4-0019bb2963f4.html

Former Bethel Assembly of God youth pastor John A. Astorga, 37, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for two counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

While he was youth pastor at Bethel, he sexually abused two female parishioners of the church. One was less than 12 years old at the time of the other was more than 12 years old.

Both appeared before Circuit Court Judge Ben Fuller to speak before Astorga was sentenced.

“When the abuse started, I?thought I?could handle it,” one of the victims said. “... you were supposed to be a father figure to me. I?don’t understand why you did this to me.”

And Astorga admitted he was wrong for what he did.

“I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through,” as he spoke to the girls, who turned their backs to him. “... I?know I?broke that trust. I’m so sorry you’ve gone through this.”

Astorga’s alleged crimes don’t stop just in Elmore County. He also faces sexual abuse charges in Cullman and Madison counties, according the state attorney general’s office.

In Cullman County, Astorga was indicted by a grand jury and charged with one count of sexual abuse.

He also has been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse in Madison County following a December 2010 grand jury indictment.