HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the sentencing of Luis Manuel Ayala-Velasquez, a Reading resident, to 14 to 46 years in prison for multiple sexual assaults that began over two decades ago.
The 56-year-old was arrested following a grand jury investigation into the Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation, which led to sexual assault charges against more than a dozen members.
Ayala-Velasquez, who pleaded guilty to five felony counts including rape of an unconscious person, was sentenced Wednesday in Northampton County Court. Post-release, he is required to register as a sex offender for life.
The investigation, carried out by the 49th Investigating Grand Jury, highlighted the extensive and prolonged abuse. The abuse began around 2001 at Ayala-Velasquez’s Bethlehem home and continued into the victim’s adulthood, occurring while the victim was sleeping.
“The convictions in this case owe much to the bravery of the victims who recounted their traumatic experiences to the grand jury,” stated Attorney General Henry. “Their testimony has been crucial in bringing these longstanding injustices to light and ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.”