The suspended sentence and reduced fine are contingent on Malonda–Nkuanga remaining on good behavior for two years. He also must pay $89 in court costs.

Malonda–Nkuanga, who served as the parish pastor in Culpeper from July 2012 until July 2016, also was instructed not to contact the victim or her family. Malonda–Nkuanga left Precious Blood last summer and was serving as minister at St. Eugene Catholic Church in Wendell, North Carolina, when the incident occurred on Oct. 1.

He was placed on administrative leave from his duties as pastor of Saint Eugene Parish and Our Lady of the Rosary Mission in Louisburg, North Carolina, in December.

The woman, a widow and a member of Precious Blood Catholic Church for 20 years, said Malonda–Nkuanga stopped by her home while he was in town to attend the funeral of a mutual friend in Orange County. After they had breakfast, the victim said the priest asked to tour her house, looking into various bedrooms.

“In the hallway, as they approached the kitchen, the defendant grabbed [the victim] from behind,” court records state. “The defendant encircled [the victim] with both arms [and] pinned her arms to her side.”

She told authorities Malonda–Nkuanga “forcefully squeezed and groped her breasts on top of her clothes.” She said she managed to temporarily break free, but he then pinned her against a kitchen counter and grabbed her breasts again.

Following the second encounter, the victim said Malonda–Nkuanga, "chuckled and said, ‘I'm so glad you are understanding about this.'"

In court on Wednesday, the victim told the judge she thought about what to do for two and a half weeks before reporting the incident to the authorities.

“The stress on me has been profound. The stress put me in the emergency room with cardiovascular problems,” she testified. “Why can’t the diocese deal with the truth?”

According to the victim, she was told “not to go to the police” by church officials.

Turning to Malonda–Nkuanga, who was dressed in his clergy shirt and collar, the victim said, “What you did to me was an aggressive attack on my body. I’m an elderly woman. You assaulted me not once, but twice. I struggled to get away. What you did to me was nasty. Shame on you.”

Court records show, Malonda–Nkuanga acknowledged visiting the victim, describing the encounter as a “hug” and that he “had not intended to hurt or sexually assault her.”

Before his ruling, Durrer said the plea agreement was appropriate because, “It has the full support of the survivor and she can avoid testifying at trial.”

Following Wednesday’s proceedings, about 30 Precious Blood parishioners surrounded Malonda–Nkuanga in the court lobby, hugging and kissing him in a show of support. 

Malonda–Nkuanga is a priest with Missionhurst, a Catholic missionary institute with several hundred priests and brothers in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.