AG Announces Maximum Sentence For Former Youth Minister With Multiple Convictions For Sex Crimes Against Children

NEWS RELEASE
Luther Strange
Alabama Attorney General
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2013
For More Information, contact:
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
AG ANNOUNCES MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR FORMER YOUTH MINISTER
WITH MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS FOR SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced that a former
Wetumpka youth minister was sentenced yesterday in Cullman County Circuit Court
to the maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for first-degree sexual abuse of a
child who was less than 12 years old.
John A. Astorga, who was previously a youth minister at the Bethel Assembly of
God in Wetumpka, had been free on an appeal bond since his conviction in April of
2012 for two counts of for first-degree sexual abuse in Elmore County. Since his
conviction in Cullman County in December of 2012, he has been and remains in the
custody of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. Astorga’s 10-year sentence in Cullman
County will run consecutively – in addition – to his 36-month sentence in Elmore
County. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender and to abide by
the community notification requirements of state law.
In December of 2012, Astorga was found guilty following a trial in Cullman
County, in which the Attorney General’s Office presented evidence that included
testimony of the victim. The trial in Elmore County included testimony from three
separate victims, as well as from the pastor of the church where Astorga had been
employed.
“I am pleased that the Court considered the predatory nature of this man’s
crimes and the devastation caused to his child victims, and thus imposed the maximum
available prison sentence,” said Attorney General Strange. “We are deeply concerned
about the damage that he has done, and want to ensure that he does not have the
opportunity to continue to prey upon innocent children.”
The cases were prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division.
Attorney General Luther Strange commended those involved, noting in particular
Assistant Attorneys General Andrew Arrington and John Hensley, Special Agents of his
Investigations Division, and Victim Service Officer Doris Hancock. He also thanked the
Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, the Cullman County District Attorney’s Office, and
the Cullman County Child Advocacy Center, for valuable assistance.
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