Predator Priest Vazquez Gets More Time

WASHINGTON – Urbano Vazquez, 49, of Washington, D.C., added to his already lengthy sentence after being found guilty yesterday of sexually abusing an adult woman while serving as a priest in Northwest Washington. The conviction adds another layer of depravity to a pattern of abuse that has haunted the city’s religious community.

Vazquez was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse following a one-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Juliet McKenna handed down the maximum sentence of 180 days incarceration, to be served consecutively with the 15-year sentence he’s already serving for four counts of felony child sexual abuse – convictions secured in 2019. This isn’t about rehabilitation; it’s about accountability, however belated.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that in approximately April 2017, during a confession at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Vazquez twice touched the adult parishioner’s breast over her clothing without her consent. The assault wasn’t a spontaneous act; the government established that Vazquez had previously made inappropriate comments about her appearance and marital status. The victim immediately confided in her mother and, later, in 2018 – when news of the child abuse allegations surfaced – reported the incident to another priest, triggering the law enforcement investigation.

The indictment for this adult abuse charge was filed alongside the child sexual abuse counts, but the cases were handled separately. In August 2019, a jury convicted Vazquez of committing four counts of child sexual abuse against two children within his parish between 2015 and 2017, leading to his current 15-year imprisonment. This latest conviction underscores the systemic nature of his predatory behavior and the lasting trauma inflicted on his victims.

U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and Metropolitan Police Chief Robert J. Contee III commended the work of the investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Forensic Sciences Leica Team. They also acknowledged the contributions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office team, including Leif Hickling, Lezlie Richardson, Juanita Harris, David Offit, Kathleen Houck, Sharon Marcus-Kurn, and Matthew Williams. But accolades don’t erase the damage. The focus must remain on supporting the victims and preventing future abuse.

The District of Columbia offers resources for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. A hotline and email address were established in October 2018 to encourage reporting. Survivors can call the Clergy Abuse English and Spanish Reporting Line at 202-252-7008 or email USADC.ReportClergyAbuse@usdoj.gov. Further information is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/victim-witness-assistance/report-clergy-abuse. All reports are reviewed by a dedicated team of investigators, prosecutors, and victim advocates.