(CA)
Hoodline [San Francisco CA]
February 6, 2026
By Tony Ng
A Contra Costa County jury on Wednesday convicted Richmond pastor Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco of sexually abusing a child in his congregation, a verdict that could carry life behind bars. Jurors found the 52-year-old guilty of five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and 10 counts of forcible lewd acts for conduct prosecutors say happened between June and October 2023. Judge Danielle Douglas has set a sentencing hearing for April 9 at the Martinez courthouse. Prosecutors say the victim and her family
Verdict and charges
The jury convicted Esperanza-Pacheco on five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 and 10 counts of forcible lewd acts, including a forcible lewd act committed during a burglary. Prosecutors told jurors the offenses occurred between June 1 and Oct. 14, 2023, and that the defendant used his position at God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church and a friendship with the family to silence the victim, as reported by SFGATE.
Prosecutors’ account and reaction
Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said the case reflects the severe harm done when a trusted figure targets a child. “The penalty the defendant is facing reflects the gravity of the crimes committed against a child,” Becton said, adding the verdict may provide some sense of justice and closure for the victim and her family, according to SFGATE. Sentencing is scheduled for April 9 in Martinez, where the judge will consider enhancements that could expose Esperanza-Pacheco to life without the possibility of parole.
Local context
Esperanza-Pacheco had been a pastor at God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church in Richmond, where prosecutors say the victim and her family were congregants. Public listings place the congregation on Macdonald Avenue in Richmond, according to FaithStreet. The Martinez courthouse that will host the sentencing is listed on the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa website as the Wakefield Taylor (Martinez) courthouse, which handles criminal matters for the county; the court’s location page lists that facility and its hours and contacts.
What’s next
The April 9 hearing will bring victim-impact statements and final sentencing arguments. Depending on statutory enhancements, Esperanza-Pacheco could receive a term that amounts to life in prison. The conviction has resonated through Richmond’s congregational communities and is likely to prompt renewed attention to how local houses of worship vet and supervise staff who work with children.