Former Las Vegas Second-Grade Teacher and Pastor Sentenced for Child Sex Crime

A former Las Vegas elementary school teacher and church pastor who pleaded guilty to a child sex crime has been sentenced to six to 15 years in prison after a judge rejected his lawyer’s request for probation.

Reynaldo Cruz Crespin, 59, who founded New Horizon Christian Church in northeast Las Vegas along with his wife in 2002, pleaded guilty in May to attempted lewdness with a child under 14.

Several other charges, including sexual assault involving children under ages 16 and 14, were dismissed in connection with the plea.

Crespin taught second grade in the Clark County School District from July 2016 until earlier this year, but none of the charges related to his students, according to KLAS-TV of Las Vegas.

Crespin was apprehended in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in February more than a week after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He had walked away from his teaching job, cut up his credit cards, and left a note saying he would live on the streets, KSNV-TV reported.

Prosecutors alleged that Crespin had sexually assaulted his daughter for more than six years. Crispin’s wife sued for custody of their children in February.

Crispin also will be subject to lifetime supervision as a sex offender.

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