A priest was found guilty of the crime of aggravated rape against a nun, after a judicial process that lasted five years from the filing of the complaint.

During the ruling hearing held on July 22, a court found Noel Sebastián D'Mello responsible for the events that occurred in the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, located in the city of Tijuana.

According to the resolution, the assault occurred six years ago and the criminal complaint was filed a year later. Since then, the case faced various delays before reaching the trial stage.

The victim, a nun who has kept her identity confidential, reported that the priest took advantage of the relationship of trust derived from the spiritual direction he exercised over her to commit the sexual assault.

According to the weekly newspaper Zeta Tijuana, the incident occurred in the priest's house when the victim went to a scheduled confession appointment with the priest of Indian origin.

During the meeting, being alone in the building, the accused asked her to stand up and proceeded to hold her tightly against his body. The victim stated that the situation caused her to be in a state of defensive paralysis: "When I am in danger I remain paralyzed, I cannot scream... my voice does not come out; I could not do anything."

Later, the priest took her upstairs, arguing that he would show her her room. At the scene, taking advantage of the woman's state of shock and paralysis, he forced her to sit on the bed, partially removed her clothing and began touching her private parts without her consent.

Upon noticing the attitude of denial, the accused reacted with annoyance and insisted that they enter the shower together, a request that the affected person rejected, repeatedly requesting that he let her leave.

The case had gained notoriety since March of this year, when it was announced that, despite the criminal investigation and an internal procedure within the Catholic Church, the priest had resumed pastoral activities in a parish in Tijuana.

With the conviction, the court determined the priest's criminal responsibility for the crime of aggravated rape.

The sentencing hearing will be held at a later date. The case has generated public attention due to complaints from organizations and groups that questioned the actions of ecclesiastical authorities and demanded measures to protect victims of sexual abuse within the Church.