Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — A former local Jehovah’s Witnesses elder was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing children decades ago, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.
Norman Aviles-Garriga, 45, who was a Jehovah’s Witness elder in Lancaster County, will spend between 11.5 to 23 years in prison for the sexual abuse of three children, Attorney General Michele Henry said.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
Aviles-Garriga was found guilty by a Lancaster County jury of 12 of his charges including aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children after a three-day trial.
Between 1999 and 2003, Aviles-Garriga abused the children in Lancaster City, the AG said. Two victims reported the abuse to Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders, but they never reported it to police, the AG said. The abuse was later disclosed to counselors and the AG Office investigated, leading to charges and a conviction.
In February 2023 Attorney General Henry announced that Aviles was among five men with ties to Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations who were facing crimes for the sexual assault of children. Since then additional charges have been filed against congregants with ties to Jehovah’s Witness.
