PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia jury has convicted a man prosecutors say used his religious position to sexually abuse a child nearly two decades ago.
David Balosa, 62, of Philadelphia was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault charges. According to prosecutors, Belosa sexually assaulted a 4-year-old in 1998, when he was 35. At the time, he was staying with the victim’s family after recently immigrating to the U.S.
Prosecutors say the victim reported the abuse to their parents 11 years later. When they confronted Balosa, he denied it ever happened. Later, they say he admitted to it and “asked for forgiveness.”
“The defendant used religion to befriend a family — even moving in with them — before betraying their trust in the most heinous way, by abusing a very young child,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry. “We have a sworn obligation to protect our children and I commend the trial jury, as well as the grand jurors, for their time and attention to this case.”
Balosa was one of several male Jehovah’s Witnesses members indicted by a statewide grand jury investigation last year.
He was tried before in March, but after several days, that initial trial ended in a hung jury. Belosa will be sentenced on Jan. 27.