Christian missionary will likely die behind bars for child sex abuse
A 70-year-old Texas Christian missionary, Daniel Savala, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing two boys. Savala, who preached “nudity is unity,” entered a guilty plea to one count of continuous trafficking of persons, leading to an effective life sentence with no possibility of parole. The sentencing was handed down by Judge Susan Kelly after Savala reached a deal with prosecutors.
Savala, once referred to as “the holiest man alive” by other pastors, was accused of running a mysterious ministry from his home, using his backyard sauna as a pretext to get boys and young men naked. In one instance, a Waco pastor and his sons were told to undress in the sauna before Savala sexually assaulted them in front of their father. The father is also facing pending charges in connection to the case.
Despite having no formal training or legitimate credentials, Savala has been accused in lawsuits, another criminal case, and by whistleblowers of sexually assaulting at least eight others. One of his accusers, Joseph Cleveland, called him a “deceitful, evil” pedophile during the sentencing, denouncing him as a charlatan who misrepresented himself as a man of God.
Savala has a prior conviction for child sex abuse in Alaska in 2012, for which he served a short jail stint. Lawsuits have accused the Assemblies of God church of failing to remove Savala from access to children despite his prior conviction, allowing him to continue harming boys for decades. The church, however, has stated that Savala was not officially affiliated with them and expressed satisfaction with his conviction.
The Assemblies of God spokesperson emphasized that the church stands in strong opposition to the teachings and practices followed by Savala. The church has been accused of ignoring repeated warnings about Savala’s actions and failing to take appropriate measures to protect children from him. Savala’s sentencing marks a significant step towards justice for his victims and serves as a warning against those who exploit their positions of trust for nefarious purposes.
