DC priest sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sexual abuse
WASHINGTON (ABC7) — A now former DC priest will spend the next 15 years behind bars, for sexually abusing two children in his parish. Urbano Vazquez learned his fate on Friday, as a superior court judge handed down his sentence.
During his sentencing hearing, the judge said a "substantial sentence" was necessary to protect against Vazquez's "predatory and manipulative behavior" that "had a devastating impact on the victims."
Vazquez was convicted after a nine-day trial in August, during which the jury found him guilty of committing four counts of child sexual abuse. Evidence in the case showed that the abuse happened inside Shrine of the Sacred Heart Church in Northwest Washington, where Vazquez served as a priest. The victims were just nine and 13 years old when it happened.
“Urbano Vazquez used his trusted position as a clergy member to abuse innocent children,” said Jessie K. Liu, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “We will not tolerate abhorrent conduct against our children. Survivors of abuse need to know that they can come forward with information and we will seek justice on their behalf.”
On Friday evening, victim advocates said they hoped the sentence can bring some measure of healing to the victims.
"I'm glad he got the 15 years. I was hoping he'd get more, but I'm glad he got sentenced to 15 years because every year he's in jail, children are safer," said Becky Ianni. with SNAP: Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests.
Ianni works with SNAP because she is a survivor herself.
"I was abused by a priest in Alexandria, Virginia from about age 8 to 12. He was a newly ordained priest, and I didn't deal with it until the age of 48," she said. "Going to a support group where there are other victims that feel the same thing you feel is so healing, because all of a sudden you've got this family that understands, that's not going to judge you. And so because of that, I wanted to be that person for somebody else."
Ianni has followed Vazquez's case since his arrest in 2018. She was actually in the courtroom in August, when one of his young female victims took the stand to testify.
"I thought, how brave these victims are. So I wanted to be in that room to support them," she said. "And I'm hoping that because these young girls came forward, and now that he's been sentenced and is going to jail, I'm hoping if there were other victims that they now will feel safe in coming forward."
She hopes Vazquez's punishment also sends a message to other potential abusers.
"I do think that getting 15 years is going to say that this is wrong, this is a crime, and if you do it, you're going to get caught and you're going to get prosecuted," Ianni said.
Survivors of child sexual abuse by a clergy member that took place in a house of worship, school, or other location in the District of Columbia can call the Clergy Abuse Reporting Line at 202-252-7008 or send an e-mail to USADC.ReportClergyAbuse@usdoj.gov.
Vazquez continues to maintain his innocence and submitted a nine-page written letter to the judge ahead of his sentencing, saying he was "too busy to do a crazy thing". The Shrine of the Sacred Heart Church removed Vazquez from his position following his arrest in 2018.
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory issued the following statement about Vazquez's 15 year prison sentence:
We learned today that Reverend Urbano Vazquez, O.F.M., Cap. was sentenced to 15 years in prison based on the jury’s prior finding of guilt on numerous charges of child sexual abuse. This has been a difficult and painful time for the victim-survivors, their families, members of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart parish community and all of us in the Archdiocese of Washington. I take seriously our responsibility to protect the children and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and remain dedicated to doing all I can to foster healing with my ongoing commitment to ensuring attentiveness and accountability in our local Church.