HARRISBURG – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Norman Aviles-Garriga, a former Jehovah’s Witnesses elder, has been sentenced to 11.5 to 23 years in prison for the sexual abuse of three children more than 20 years ago.
Aviles-Garriga, 45, was found guilty in June by a Lancaster County jury of 12 charges, including aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children.
The charges stem from the 49th Investigating Grand Jury and were filed and prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General.
“This defendant, who abused his position within the religious community and sexually assaulted multiple children, was sentenced to over a decade in state prison. He was also found to be a sexually violent predator, which will require lifetime registrations as a sex offender,” Attorney General Henry said. “The courage and strength these victims displayed is so admirable and appreciated. Even after the trauma they endured at the hands of this defendant, they came forward, they testified, and now this defendant stands convicted and sentenced for his heinous crimes.”
The abuse happened around 1999 and 2003 in Lancaster city. According to testimony, two of the victims reported the abuse to Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders, but the reports were not relayed to police.
The victims later disclosed the abuse to counselors. The Office of Attorney General investigated, charged, and convicted the defendant after a jury trial.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Angela Sperrazza.
# # #