According to prosecutors, a Texas pastor who was found guilty of inappropriately touching a member of his congregation claimed to the victim’s father that “the devil made him do it.”
Gregorio Maldonado, aged 46 and a resident of Katy, has been found guilty of indecent assault. As a result, he has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment in the Fort Bend County Jail. Additionally, he has been fined $4,000, as reported by KTRK-TV.
According to the Fort Bend Herald, a jury from Fort Bend County delivered a verdict on Monday and imposed the maximum sentence permitted by law.
According to Michelle Anderson, the lead prosecutor, the victim was a church member in Stafford, a town situated 21 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Maldonado, who was a pastor at the church, resided with his family in the same house as the victim, as reported by KHOU-TV.
According to the television station, the victim finally confided in her father about the alleged assault in January 2022.
The man recorded a video of Maldonado apologizing when he confronted him.
According to a report from KHOU, Maldonado stated that he could not remember the alleged encounter. However, he did mention that if something did occur, he believes it was due to the influence of the devil.
Maldonado was arrested by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office in May 2022. According to KTRK, the arrest was made after other victims came forward with similar allegations.
“The defendant took advantage of his position of trust, causing the victim to endure a lengthy wait for justice. The defendant’s actions have inflicted invisible wounds on the victim, some of which will leave a lasting impact. In a statement, Anderson expressed, ‘However, she is a resilient survivor. She intends to channel her traumatic experience into helping other victims by pursuing a career in the police academy as a sexual crimes investigator.'”
Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton expressed his enthusiasm for the groundbreaking conviction.
According to Middleton, the severity of indecent assault was comparable to a traffic ticket, classified as a Class C offense, until 2019. However, the Texas Legislature made changes to the law, increasing the seriousness of the crime. Middleton emphasized that this particular case was the first of its kind to be tried in Fort Bend County. The verdict and sentence have now established a precedent, sending a clear message that the residents of Fort Bend County will not tolerate such repugnant behavior or abuses of power.
