Youth Pastor Sentenced for Abuse | Denver News

A youth pastor from Thornton, Joshua Lucero, has been sentenced to 13 years to life for sexually assaulting a teenage girl under his care — a betrayal of trust that shattered the very community he was meant to guide. Once leading youth events and overnight retreats at his father’s church, Lucero secretly groomed and abused the girl over years, forcing her to keep silent. When she finally came forward in 2021, the church buried the abuse internally — prompting resignations and ultimately, police involvement. The victim’s courage led to Lucero’s arrest in 2025, and prosecutors called the sentence a reflection of the profound harm done. His attorney plans an appeal, but justice has been served — and the message is clear: predators in positions of trust will face consequences. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/75bfa06349f6df61