Reading man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing girl while she was a Jehovah’s Witness

A Reading man has been sentenced to between 14 and 46 years in prison for sexually abusing a girl since 2001, when he and the victim were members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious community.

Luis Manuel Ayala-Velasquez, 56, pleaded guilty to five counts, including rape of an unconscious person, and was sentenced Wednesday in Northampton County court, state Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a news release.

After his release from prison, Ayala-Velasquez will have to register his whereabouts as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Henry said.

Ayala-Velasquez was arrested last year after a commission of inquiry recommended bringing sexual assault charges against more than a dozen members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith, Henry said.

According to court documents, Ayala-Velazquez and the girl were members of the Spanish congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Bethlehem.

“The courageous victims who came forward and told jurors their horrific stories of abuse resulted in charges being brought against the defendants,” Henry said. “The abuse in this case began decades ago, but the courageous victim and the diligent efforts of the OAG (Office of Attorney General) agents and attorneys ensured that justice was served and the defendant was finally held accountable.”

Authorities said the assaults began in 2001, when the victim was 12 years old and Ayala-Velasquez was 34 and living in Bethlehem.

According to prosecutors, the victim claimed that he sneaked into her bedroom and sexually abused her while she was sleeping.

He sexually abused her several times a week over a two-year period, authorities said. Authorities say he also attempted to sexually abuse her years later, after she moved to Berks County.

Years later, Jehovah’s Witness elders told the victim that they had learned of the assaults and that Ayala-Velazquez had been “disfellowshipped” or excommunicated and that she no longer had to fear seeing him at meetings, court documents say.

The investigating grand jury received documents confirming the abuse, officials said. While no details were provided, the documents indicated that Ayala-Velazquez admitted to the abuse, police said.