Brazil: ex-pastor sentenced to over 26 years for raping children of church members during congregation activities

Proceedings

1. 2026-05-20 · trial conviction (first of multiple related proceedings)

   Brazil — comarca of Altamira, Pará; Tribunal de Justiça do Pará. José Dorivaldo Teixeira, an ex-pastor under investigation since 2021, was convicted of rape of a vulnerable person and sexual violation through fraud against at least five victims, children of church members whom he accessed by exploiting parental trust during church activities. He was sentenced to more than 26 years' imprisonment in this first of what press described as a set of related proceedings; the court recognized continuidade delitiva (continuous criminal conduct) given the repeated pattern against multiple victims.

Documented coercion mechanisms

• exploitation of parents' trust in his pastoral role to gain time alone with their children during church activities
• pattern of abuse against at least five victims recognized by the court as continuous criminal conduct ('continuidade delitiva')