Lowell Pastors Found Guilty in Child Rape Case

By Rachel Riley
Boston Globe
December 17, 2015

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/12/16/lowell-pastors-found-guilty-child-rape-case/oPXJV4vmcPMB0z6ct4AYHP/story.html

A married pair of pastors at a Lowell church have been convicted in connection with the rape and assault of a child, the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan said Wednesday.

Oscar Sanchez, 35, was found guilty Tuesday in Lowell Superior Court of charges including child rape, indecent assault and battery, and reckless endangerment of a child, prosecutors said. His wife, 42-year-old Luisa Osorio-Sanchez, was also found guilty of assault and battery and reckless endangerment of a child.

The victim lived with Sanchez and Osorio-Sanchez at their house in Lowell, Ryan’s office said.

Sanchez sexually assaulted the victim for over ten years, beginning in 2003, under the pretense that he was praying with her in her room, Ryan’s office said. His wife, who knew of the sexual abuse, physically attacked the victim, according to prosecutors.

“The victim in this case was repeatedly subjected to sexual and physical assault by the defendants,” Ryan said in a statement. “These individuals are guilty of preying on a child in their home and violating the victim’s sense of trust and safety.”

A spokesperson from Ryan’s office declined to identify the church where the defendants were pastors. The couple will be sentenced Jan. 15, according to Ryan’s office.

Rachel Riley can be reached at rachel.riley@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @rachel_m_riley.