Former Youth Minister to Be Sentenced for Sex Crimes

Montgomery Advertiser
July 27, 2012

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20120727/NEWS01/307270004/Former-youth-minister-sentenced-sex-crimes?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

A former youth minister facing charges in Madison and Cullman counties in connection with sex crimes against children is due to be sentenced July 31 for similar crimes in Elmore County, Attorney General Luther Strange announced Thursday.

John A. Astorga, 37, of Wetumpka was convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse April 11 in Elmore County Circuit Court. During the trial, three victims testified, as did the pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Wetumpka, where Astorga worked, according to the AG’s office.

At his July 31 sentencing, Astorga will face a penalty of one year and one day to 10 years in prison for each of the two counts, which are class C felonies, a news release from Strange’s office states. State law also requires him to register as a convicted sex offender and to abide by community notification requirements of state law.

“We urge the court to consider the predatory nature of this man’s crimes and the devastation caused to his child victims and to impose a prison term,” Strange stated. “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.”

In addition to the Elmore County case, similar crimes are being prosecuted against Astorga in Madison and Cullman counties.

Astorga was indicted June 22 by a grand jury in Cullman County for one count of first-degree sexual abuse. Charges are also pending against Astorga for three counts of first-degree sexual abuse involving three victims in an indictment returned December 2010 by a Madison County grand jury, according to Strange’s office.

Astorga currently is free on bond. Calls made to attorneys listed for Astorga were unsuccessful Thursday.