52-year-old Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco faces life without parole
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
A jury in Contra Costa County reached a verdict that convicted a former Richmond pastor of various offenses related to the sexual assault of a child.
On February 4th, 2026, 52-year-old Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco was found guilty by a jury on five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14 and 10 counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child. The offenses Esperanza-Pacheco committed on Jane Doe occurred between June 1st, 2023, and October 14th, 2023. The jury also found that the Defendant committed a forcible lewd act upon a child during the commission of a first-degree residential burglary. (See list of 15 Counts in Emilio Esperanza-Pacheco Amended Info Filed)
At the time when the crimes occurred, Esperanza-Pacheco was employed as a pastor at God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church in Richmond, where Doe and her family were members and became friends with him.
Through the course of the trial, the prosecution presented the jury with evidence that Esperanza-Pacheco used his position with the church and his friendship with the family to silence the victim from telling anyone about the sexual assaults.
The victim eventually found the courage to tell her parents about the abuse. Richmond Police officers arrested Esperanza-Pacheco on October 14th, 2023, and booked him into custody, where he remained for the duration of the criminal legal proceedings.
According to faithstreet.com, “God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church is a Nondenominational church in Richmond, CA featuring contemporary and traditional hymns worship and with children’s ministry and community service.” It is located at 3725 Macdonald Avenue in Richmond. No website or social media account could be found for the church from an internet search.
Judge Danielle Douglas has set a sentencing date for Esperanza-Pacheco on April 9th, 2026, at 8:30 am in Martinez. He faces life without the possibility of parole.
District Attorney Diana Becton said, “The penalty the defendant is facing reflects the gravity of the crimes committed against a child. While no outcome can undo the trauma suffered by the victim, we hope the verdict provides some sense of justice and allows her and her family to move forward with a degree of closure.”
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Esperanza-Pacheco’s race is unknown.
Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Ashley Torres prosecuted the case on behalf of the People of the State of California.
Case No. 02-23-01604 | The People of the State of California v. Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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