The priest from Viseu who was accused of attempted aggravated sexual coercion and enticement of a minor for sexual purposes was sentenced today to one year and 11 months in prison.
The sentence is suspended for a period of three years and subject to probation, and the priest is obliged to attend a program for child and youth sex offenders, and undergo psychological or psychiatric evaluation.
Father Luís Miguel Costa was also sentenced to an accessory penalty of being banned from exercising any profession, employment, function or public or private activity whose exercise involves regular contact with minors.
He was also obliged to pay the victim 10,000 euros in damages.
According to the prosecution’s indictment, on March 27, 2021, “the defendant, while sitting next to a minor”, who was 14 years old at the time, “touched the victim’s hand with his hand and, shortly afterwards, told her that he intended to have a sexual relationship” with him.
“He then invited the minor to meet him in the bathroom, where, pulling him close, he brought his lips close to his, repeatedly trying to kiss him on the mouth, which he avoided,” he added.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office also said that, “shortly afterwards”, the priest sent “several SMS [short message service] to the minor’s cell phone, enticing him to meet him in order to have a sexual relationship with him”.
In May 2022, after Luís Miguel Costa had been heard during the pre-trial phase of the case, lawyer Paulo Duarte told journalists that he hoped his client “would not be, nor ever serve as, a scapegoat to expiate the faults of anyone, particularly institutions”.
