VIRGINIA/TEXAS
NBC 12
By Britni McDonald
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) –
Geronimo Aguilar, better known as Pastor G, faced a Texas jury Wednesday for the ultimate decision: Guilty on all seven counts of child sexual abuse.
The verdict comes after hours of deliberations and years after his arrest, but it’s been more than two decades since the alleged assaults of the two girls in Texas. They date back to the ’90s, years before Pastor G founded the Richmond Outreach Center. The ROC made its mark quickly, even named one of the fastest growing churches in America. But that all came to a standstill in 2013 when Aguilar was arrested and charged with sexual assault.
He and three other pastors resigned shortly after. But Pastor G has denied the allegations from the start. In fact, just a day before the verdict, he took the stand in his own defense, reportedly denying having any sexual contact with the alleged victims, even saying he considered them like sisters. It’s something the jury and Virginia Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests Director Becky Ianni doesn’t buy.
“I’m glad that he was found guilty,” said Ianni. “When you’re abused by someone religious, in a way, you almost feel like you’ve been abused by God.”
Being a victim of sexual assault as a child by a church leader herself, she applauds the victims for coming forward and hopes more can do the same.
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