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	Ex-Youth Pastor Gets 63 Years Jamie Soria Is Sentenced for Sex Abuse of 4 Boys By Chris Collins Fresno Bee July 10, 2007 http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/81669.html A story on page B1 in Tuesday's edition of the Fresno Bee with the headline "Ex-youth pastor gets 63 years" incorrectly identified convicted child molester Jamie William Soria as a former youth pastor at Northwest Church in Fresno. Soria is a former volunteer with the church's youth group. God will be the final judge. That was about the only thing everyone could agree on as former Northwest Church volunteer Jamie William Soria was sentenced Monday to at least 63 years in prison for sexually abusing four boys. Family members of Soria — who was described by his defense attorney as a "touchy, feely guy" — still believe he is innocent, despite the fact a jury convicted him in May on nine counts of child molestation, including one count of sodomy. "The only ones who know the truth are him and God," Soria's sister, Judy Butts, told Judge W. Kent Levis Jr. "And we ask that you have mercy on his soul." But some of the victims' mothers said Monday that Soria doesn't deserve mercy in this case. He harmed their children in terrible ways, they said, and he should be locked up for life. Like Soria's family, they said there is only one ultimate judge: "God is the final witness," said a woman who identified herself in court as the mother of one of the victims. She is not being named to protect her son's identity. For his part, Soria called his accusers' testimony "appalling" and said his former church had turned its back on him. "We're supposed to show grace and mercy, but when someone makes an accusation, all of a sudden everyone scatters like they didn't even know me," Soria said. "This can't be justified in the eyes of the Lord. There's no way." Levis sentenced Soria to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 63 years. Soria, 36, had attended the Fresno church for 14 years and volunteered with a fifth- and sixth-grade youth group. Prosecutor Galen Rutiaga said Soria developed a pattern of earning the trust of single mothers and then preying on their sons in the youth group. He also developed close relationships with boys he met while coaching football, basketball and soccer at Malloch Elementary School, teacher David Bradley testified during the trial. All the boys were younger than 14 when they were molested, Rutiaga said. A criminal investigation began in July 2004 after one of the church's young members told a youth pastor that Soria had abused him. Soria said Monday that he started volunteering at the church and the school "because people saw in me the skills and abilities to work with kids." "The habit I have is giving of myself to serve," he said. "I feel God gave me some serious gifts to work with youth and people. I'm appalled by the accusations." But while addressing the judge Monday, Soria never denied molesting the boys. Rutiaga dismissed Soria's words, telling Levis that Soria "clearly wants to blame everyone else for everything and not take responsibility." One mother told the judge that Soria had been like a father to her children — until he betrayed their trust. "What he did was wrong to my children, and I hope someday he can admit that," she said. After sentencing Soria, Levis offered words of comfort to the victims' families. "It is a tragedy that has befallen," the judge said. "But God is big enough and is more than capable of dealing with what happened." A story on page B1 in Tuesday's edition of the Fresno Bee with the headline "Ex-youth pastor gets 63 years" incorrectly identified convicted child molester Jamie William Soria as a former youth pastor at Northwest Church in Fresno. Soria is a former volunteer with the church's youth group. The reporter can be reached at ccollins@fresnobee.com or(559) 441-6412.
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