Former Jehovah’s Witnesses elder convicted of sexually abusing three children

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania – A former Jehovah’s Witnesses elder has been convicted of sexually abusing three children more than 20 years ago.

According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Norman Aviles-Garriga was found guilty on Wednesday afternoon of all 12 counts, including aggravated sexual assault, sexual battery and endangering the welfare of a child, in a three-day trial in Lancaster County.

The verdict against 45-year-old Aviles-Garriga will be announced at a later date.

Following the verdict, a Lancaster County judge revoked Aviles-Garriga’s bail and he was taken into custody.

The charges were brought by the 49th Grand Jury and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. The abuse occurred in Lancaster City between 1999 and 2003.

“This defendant used religion as a weapon to gain the community’s trust and proximity to abused children, and then took steps as an elder to discredit the victims,” ​​said Attorney General Michelle Henry. “The persistence of investigators and the brave survivors of this abuse did not allow this to happen, and this predatory defendant will now be held accountable.”

According to witnesses, two of the victims reported the abuse to Jehovah’s Witness leaders. At meetings before the elders, Aviles-Garriga called the victims “demons” and retaliated by using his position to delay their baptisms.

According to witnesses, Aviles-Garriga was excluded from the church for several months, but was then allowed to return.

The victims later told counselors about the abuse.

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