CLEVELAND (OH)
WKYC-TV, NBC - 3 [Cleveland OH]
February 11, 2026
By Annabelle Childers
The woman claiming she was sexual abused as a teen by a former church worship director testified Wednesday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
A 27-year-old woman testified for hours Tuesday in the trial of a former Cleveland area church worship director accused of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager.
In March 2025, Andres Andino, 60, was indicted on two counts of sexual battery, two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and one count of rape. At the time of his arrest, he had been working as director of worship at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Parma Heights as well as part time at St. Joseph Parish in Avon Lake, in addition to a number of other volunteer positions for churches and groups across the Diocese of Cleveland.
Andino maintains his innocence, claiming he viewed the victim as the daughter he never had and never touched or treated her inappropriately.
WARNING: This story contains disturbing allegations of sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
The alleged victim took the stand and laid out a timeline of her relationship with Andino, detailing how she said their interactions evolved from music lessons to sexual abuse.
The victim told the court she first met Andino as a sixth grader, when he served as school choir director at St. Anthony of Padua in Lorain. She testified that they grew closer after she asked him to give her piano lessons.
During those private lessons, the victim claims Andino began patting her on the back and letting her hold his hand. When she reached high school, she claims he started touching her sexually in the Cleveland music studio he owned before ultimately having sex with her in 2013.
She testified that before it happened, Andino said, “I can’t take advantage of you. You’re 15 years old.”
The alleged sexual encounters continued multiple times a week until the victim went to college, she said, adding that Andino told her he loved her and made her feel special. She said she worried that if she told anyone what happened, he wouldn’t like her anymore.
Over the years, as she confided in college friends, she said she began to view their relationship differently. In 2024, she decided to come forward to police after receiving a Google meeting invite from Andino.
Both the prosecution and defense questioned the victim about nearly 5,500 messages exchanged between her and Andino between 2016 and 2018. Andino frequently picked up the victim from her house for lessons and church events, and many conversations document those exchanges, according to testimony.
In 2018, the victim claims she stopped responding to Andino. Cuyahoga County prosecutors shared final text messages he sent her on Sept. 25, 2018: “Your mom showed me a video of you playing at your last recital. You are amazing. I’m so proud of you, I almost started crying in front of your parents. I miss you so much and think of you all the time.”
The women, by then an adult, did not respond. Andino texted again two days later: “You don’t have to respond, I know things change.” He went on to write, “My feelings never have and never will change for you. I will be there for you if you ever need me sweetie.”
As the woman described the alleged sexual acts, Andino appeared visibly distraught, at times shaking his head and whispering to his defense attorney. His lawyer tells 3News Andino will take the stand in the trial, and that the jury will also hear testimony from Andino’s wife and multiple character witnesses.