TEXAS
Star-Telegram
BY MITCH MITCHELL
mitchmitchell@star-telegram.com
An evangelist who founded the Freedom in Worship Church is no longer free, a judged ruled Wednesday.
Emiliano Patino, 40, of Fort Worth was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation for sexually abusing two teenage sisters nearly 18 years ago when he was 23.
Patino’s sentences will run concurrently, state District Judge George Gallagher ruled. Patino must serve at least five years before he becomes eligible for parole, and if he is released before serving the full 10 years, he will be on probation for the remainder of his sentence, prosecutor Eric Nickols said.
“We’re very pleased with the sentence,” Nickols said after the verdict. “Child sexual abuse is a serious crime deserving of prison time no matter how long ago it occurred.”
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