59-year-old Ghanshayam Ratilal Joshi, who worked as a priest at the Hindu Temple in Phoenix, Arizona for 20 years, has been charged with child molestation, ABC15 reported.
Police say the victim, who arrived in United States from India in 2010, was molested for four years by this priest.
She told police that Joshi allegedly told her this was normal and "that various gods and saints had sex with female children." The victim also told the police that Joshi molested her in his office at the temple.
Police say that the priest threatened to kill the victim if she told anyone.
Joshi was arrested after the victim produced evidence against him.
Upon a friend’s encouragement, the victim recorded Joshi reportedly admitting to ‘spoiling her virginity’ when she was 12.
She handed over this evidence to police on August 6th.
After his arrest, Joshi requested for his attorney and has not talked to police since.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has charged Joshi with child molestation, sexual conduct with minor and sexual abuse.
