RICHMOND (CA)
ChurchLeaders [Colorado Springs CO]
May 1, 2026
By Dale Chamberlain
A former pastor has been sentenced 120 years to life, plus an additional term of life without the possibility of parole after being convicted of numerous child sex abuse charges. Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco was pastor of God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church in Richmond, California, when he committed his crimes.
Editor’s note: This article refers to disturbing reports of child sex abuse, which some readers might find triggering.
In February, Esperanza-Pacheco was convicted of five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, 10 counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child, and one count of a forcible lewd act upon a child during the commission of a first-degree residential burglary, according to a press release from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.
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The crimes occurred between June 1, 2023, and Oct. 14, 2023. The victim and her family were members of God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church and had developed a friendship with Esperanza-Pacheco.
Esperanza-Pacheco was found to have exploited his position of authority and trust to discourage the victim from reporting his abuse.
The victim eventually told her parents about the abuse, and Esperanza-Pacheco was arrested on Oct. 14, 2023.
Esperanza-Pacheco remained in custody throughout his trial. He will now remain in prison for the rest of his life.
Judge Danielle Douglas said that her sentencing decision in Esperanza-Pacheco’s case was driven by “two sets of aggravating circumstances.”
“The first was when Esperanza-Pacheco broke into the victim’s home with the intent to commit sexual assault,” said the district attorney’s office press release. “Under California law, a forcible sex crime committed against a child under 14 during a first-degree burglary carries a penalty of life without the possibility of parole.”
The second set of aggravating circumstances “involved three additional factors.”
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“First, the victim was particularly vulnerable,” said the release. “Second, Esperanza-Pacheco took advantage of his position of trust as a pastor and trusted family friend to gain access to the victim and carry out the abuse.”
“Third, the defendant engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society,” the statement added.
District Attorney Diana Becton said of Esperanza-Pacheco’s sentence, “It is our hope that the victim and her family find some measure of peace and closure.”
“The bravery the young victim showed by speaking up has led to an outcome where an abuser who exploited his position of trust will not have the opportunity to harm another child again,” Becton said.
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ChurchLeaders was not able to reach God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church for comment. It appears to have no website or social media profiles. Its phone line has apparently been disconnected. It is unclear whether the church is still in operation.