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	Ex-Church Youth Minister Gets Probation for Molesting Teen By Adriana Chávez El Paso Times May 13, 2010 http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_15074600?source=most_viewed A state district judge sentenced a former church youth minister to 10 years of probation Wednesday for molesting a teenage boy. Elhanam Armenta Jr., 38, pleaded guilty to charges of indecency with a child and sexual assault of a child before District Judge Chris Antcliff. As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Armenta was sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication, meaning judgment will be deferred for 10 years if Armenta meets the terms of his probation during that time. Armenta must also serve 300 hours of community service, pay a $1,500 fine, receive counseling and register as a sex offender. He was also ordered not to have any contact with the victim or his family. Court records show that Armenta began molesting the victim in 2002 when the boy was 13 years old. The abuse continued until 2005, but the victim didn't report the abuse until last year. At the time of the abuse, Armenta was a youth minister at the Living Water Christian Center in the Lower Valley. Armenta and the church are named in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of six boys who attended the church. The victim is among the people who filed the lawsuit. During the hearing Wednesday, Armenta declined to make a statement but admitted to Antcliff that the allegations against him were true. According to the civil suit, church officials fired Armenta as a youth minister in 2007 after a child accused Armenta of "maliciously" throwing a football at the child. Soon after the incident, church members voted to expel Armenta after discussing concerns about the child sexual abuse allegations against him, the lawsuit states. In 2004, police arrested Armenta in Central El Paso for allegedly soliciting a male undercover officer for sex. A prostitution charge against Armenta was eventually dropped after he completed a pretrial diversion program, court records show. Armenta worked for the city Parks and Recreation Department as a recreation leader from January 2008 until last Sept. 9, when he left the position because of "violation of rules," according to the city's employment records. The rules Armenta violated weren't immediately specified. Contact: achavez@elpasotimes.com
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