Sex Offender's Charges Involve Same Victims

By Kevin Taylor
Wetumpka Herald
August 13, 2012

http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/news/article_6f50bf0c-e40c-11e1-843e-001a4bcf887a.html

John A. Astorga

A convicted sex offender and former Elmore County youth pastor is scheduled to face more charges of sexual abuse later this month in Madison County.

Former youth pastor at Bethel Assembly of God John Anthony Astorga, 37, faces three counts of sexual abuse in Madison County.

His arraignment date is scheduled for Aug. 23 and his trial date is scheduled for Aug. 27.

Astorga was convicted of two counts of sexual abuse in Elmore County and sentenced to 36 months in prison last week by Judge Ben Fuller.

The three counts of sexual abuse in Madison and one count of sexual abuse Cullman counties are tied together because the charges involve the same victims, according to Andrew Arrington of the state attorney general's office.

Arrington said the abuse allegedly started in Cullman County.

Astorga is charged with one count of sexual abuse in Cullman County, and his scheduled trial date is set for Sept. 10.

The victim was younger than 12 years old at the time in Cullman County, Arrington said.

The children then moved to Madison County and later to Elmore County and so did Astorga.

Arrington said the children were well into their teens when the abuse happened in Elmore County.

Arrington said he could not comment on the exact connection Astorga had with the children outside of being members of the same church.

During his sentencing hearing last week in Elmore County, Astorga said he was sorry for what the children had gone through.

"...I know I broke that trust," Astorga said. "I know I did wrong."