Conviction Christian institutions & contexts Evangelical, Pentecostal, and independent Talsi, Latvia · 2023

Latvia: Baptist minister and Sunday-school director convicted of abusing five girls

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

Baptist minister and director of the congregation's Sunday school

Organization

No organization assigned

Spiritual nexus

CORE, with the court naming it: children of his Sunday school, abused through the authority the role conferred.

Evidence structure

Proceedings

2023-01-01 · conviction; confirmed on appeal

Kurzemes rajona tiesa (Ventspils); Kurzemes apgabaltiesa (appellate). Aivars Š., a Baptist minister and director of his congregation's Sunday school in Talsu novads, was convicted of the sexual abuse of five girls aged between seven and sixteen between August 2018 and April 2022, the court finding that he had exploited the trust and helplessness his position created. He received ten years plus three years' probation, and the Kurzeme regional court confirmed the conviction on appeal.

the court's express finding that he exploited the trust and helplessness his pastoral and Sunday-school roles created

Primary record

national newspaper court reporting verdict and sentencing report NRA.lv: 'Aivars Š. notiesāts par seksuālu vardarbību Talsu novadā'.: Latvian national outlet's court report.

Related record