Honduras: Miskito community pastor convicted of trafficking and aggravated rape of a 15-year-old he took from her family under promise of paid childcare work

Proceedings

1. 2022-12-09 · convicted at public trial; sentence individualization hearing scheduled

   Tribunal de Sentencia de La Ceiba, Fiscalía Regional del Litoral Atlántico, Honduras. Willie Sudia Gómez, who presented himself as a Miskito community leader and evangelical pastor, was found guilty at public trial of human trafficking (exploitation under conditions of slavery/servitude) and aggravated rape of a 15-year-old girl. He had persuaded her family in Puerto Lempira in June 2021 to let her accompany him to La Ceiba for paid childcare work and schooling; she received no pay, was beaten, and was raped in early August 2021. Under the applicable code, trafficking carries 8-10 years and aggravated rape 13 years 4 months-17 years; a sentencing hearing was set for 9 December 2022.

Documented coercion mechanisms

• pastoral and community-leader standing used to persuade a low-income family to release their daughter into his care
• false promise of paid work and schooling
• physical violence and threats to secure compliance and silence