Pastor Faces Trial for Minor’s Rape in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — A control judge has ordered a church pastor to stand trial, formally charging him for his alleged involvement in acts constituting the crime of rape against a minor. The decision was issued after the State Attorney General’s Office, through the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Sexual Crimes and Free Development of Personality, presented the corresponding evidence.

The events for which Antonio “N” is being investigated first occurred on February 23 of this year. The adolescent victim had gone to his house, located on Ibis Street in the Villas del Sol neighborhood of this municipality, to help his wife make tamales. The victim knew the now accused individual because he was the pastor of the church she regularly attended with her family.

The following day, the victim returned to Antonio “N”’s house to cook with his wife. When the wife left to run an errand, the man allegedly took the opportunity to rape the teenager again, leading the adolescent to decide not to return to that location.

In October of this year, the young woman was deceitfully brought back to the pastor’s residence, where she was possibly raped again. This situation was repeated on other occasions until one of the victim’s brothers learned of what had occurred and, together with the victim’s mother, reported the crime to the authorities.

Following his arrest and after the legally required period had passed, the judge determined that there were sufficient elements to formally charge him and proceed with a trial. The judge also imposed the precautionary measure of preventive detention for the duration of the judicial process.