Previously Sentenced Child Abuser Remains in Prison

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 23, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A defendant remains incarcerated after his motion was denied.

Urbano Vazquez, 47, is charged with second-degree child sex abuse for a victim under the age of 18, second-degree child sex abuse for a victim that was under the age of 12, committing sex offenses against two or more victims, and a misdemeanor for sexual abuse of a child under age 12. 

Vazquez’s offenses against two young girls occurred when he worked as a priest at the Shrine of Sacred Heart Church in Washington, D.C., according to court documents. He was sentenced to seven and half years of incarceration on Nov. 22, 2019.

Vazquez will continue to be held without bail after DC Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny O’Keefe denied the defense’s motion for release due to COVID-19 concerns on April 17.

On April 23, DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson presided over a status hearing by phone, including Vazquez’s defense attorney, David Richter, and the prosecutor were also present via phone.

Richter said that Vazquez was no longer experiencing previous medical issues at the DC Jail. Vazquez files for release because of COVID-19 March 23.

There was a non-jury trial scheduled for May 8, however that date was vacated.

A status hearing is scheduled for July 9.