ARIZONA
Arizona Republic
Catherine Calderon, The Republic | azcentral.com July 11, 2014
A former church volunteer was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison with lifetime probation in connection with the molestation of children in his care as a church baby-sitter and camp counselor.
Christian Salvador Turcios, 28, pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to multiple counts of child molestation, aggravated assault and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.
Turcios worked at Phoenix First Assembly of God and Highlands Church in Scottsdale. Police said the molestations took place over seven years.
Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell was joined in court on Friday by the families of Turcios’ young victims who spoke of the emotional distress his actions caused them.
One victim’s mother narrated her son’s struggle at school and need to seek out therapy, which has proved ineffective. The family was unable to visit the church for a long time, she said.
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