Lancaster Jehovah’s Witness elder found guilty on all charges for 1999 molestations

A Lancaster County jury found a Jehovah’s Witness elder guilty of molesting three girls in his church between 1999 and 2003, marking a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for victims of abuse within religious communities.

Norman Aviles-Garriga, 45, was among five members of the Jehovah’s Witness church in Pennsylvania indicted by a state grand jury for using their clerical positions to sexually abuse children, a crime that has led to his conviction on 12 charges.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General highlighted how the defendant exploited his religious role to gain trust and proximity to children, ultimately leading to the abuse of three girls from the same extended family, a pattern that aligns with the call to speak up for the oppressed (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Aviles-Garriga, who moved from Puerto Rico to Lancaster in 1999, became an elder in the church after babysitting children for Jehovah’s Witness families, a position he used to manipulate and abuse the children under his care.

Two of the girls reported the abuse to church leaders, but Aviles-Garriga discredited them, calling them “demons” and delaying their baptisms, a tactic that reflects the consequences of sin and the need for accountability (Ephesians 5:11).

The case was only brought to light after the girls sought help from counselors in 2010, leading to an investigation by the Office of Attorney General and subsequent charges in 2023, a process that underscores the importance of justice and truth.

One of the girls also accused another church leader, Abimael Valentin-Matos, of sexual abuse, highlighting the broader pattern of abuse within the community and the ongoing need for vigilance and protection.

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