Two More Lancaster Jehovah’s Witnesses Charged with Child Sexual Abuse by Grand Jury

Two more Jehovah’s Witnesses from Lancaster County have been charged by a statewide grand jury with using their positions within their churches to sexually abuse children. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced charges against Abimael Valentin-Matos, 42, and Norman Aviles, 44, as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations involving Jehovah’s Witnesses. The grand jury’s report indicates that both men assaulted the same female victim, but at different times. They are among five men currently facing charges in this investigation.

The charges against Valentin-Matos and Aviles follow the October 2022 arrests of four other Jehovah’s Witnesses for similar allegations, including that of Jose A. Serrano, 68, from Lancaster. Attorney General Henry emphasized the gravity of these crimes, noting the betrayal of trust inherent in the accused using their faith communities or familial roles to gain access to their victims. “Our office will never stop working to seek justice for those who have been victimized, and we will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone who harms the most vulnerable in our society,” Henry stated.

Valentin-Matos is accused of meeting a 15-year-old girl at a church event in 2009. Despite the church’s stipulation that he could only court her with a chaperone and with a commitment to marriage, he allegedly began sending her inappropriate photos and later sexually assaulted her. Aviles, an elder in his congregation, is accused of abusing three girls aged between five and 10, leveraging the trust placed in him to gain access to the victims.

The grand jury report highlights the conflicting accounts provided by the accused. Valentin-Matos claimed the girl initiated the sexual contact, while Aviles suggested she was responsible for tempting men. On one occasion, Aviles reportedly told the girl that her choice of clothing was to blame for her situation, contributing to her feelings of guilt. The victim, who had dedicated significant time to her faith, expressed deep remorse over the impact of her actions, stating, “I worked all of these hours, that I’m putting in going door-to-door knocking, preaching, getting baptized, and dedicated my entire life to this, and I just threw it all away because I did this.”

The psychological toll on the victim has been severe, with reports of panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. In seeking solace, she turned to counseling to cope with the trauma. This case underscores the importance of accountability within religious communities and the need for vigilance to protect the most vulnerable, aligning with biblical calls for justice and care for neighbors, as seen in Micah 6:8.

Source: Read the original report