(KRON) -- On Friday, a Contra Costa County judge sentenced a former Richmond pastor to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for sexually assaulting an underage girl who he met through his church. Ex-pastor Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco was found guilty following a jury trial in February of aggravated sexual assault of a child, as well as forcible lewd acts upon a child, prosecutors said. Esperanza-Pacheco's crimes happened between June-October of 2023 while he was working as a pastor at God's Lighthouse of Truth Church, prosecutors said. "The victim and her family were members and had developed a friendship with him. Esperanza-Pacheco exploited his position within the church and his relationship with the family to prevent the victim from disclosing the abuse," the district attorney's office wrote. Slain San Jose toddler’s time in foster care placed under microscope During one incident, the 53-year-old pastor broke into the victim's home to sexually assault her, prosecutors said. The girl told her parents about the abuse in October, leading to Esperanza-Pacheco's arrest. District Attorney Diana Becton said, "The bravery the young victim showed by speaking up has led to an outcome where an abuser who exploited his position of trust will not have the opportunity to harm another child again." ...read more read less