A former Columbia pastor was sentenced to 14 years in prison Monday in connection with the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl.

Roberto Edgar Lopez, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree statutorysodomy and second-degree statutory rape, Assistant Prosecuting AttorneyNicole Gorovsky said. Judge Gene Hamilton sentenced Lopez to twoconsecutive seven-year sentences.

A jury trial had been scheduled for Tuesday morning, but attorneyswere able to come to a plea agreement, Gorovsky said. According toCasenet, Lopez faced two sexual abuse charges and an additional chargeof endangering the welfare of a child.

Gorovsky said the charge of endangering the welfare of a child was dropped as part of the agreement.

"In these cases with a child victim, there's always a balancing actbetween protecting the victim and doling out justice for thedefendant," Gorovsky said. "Somewhere in that balancing act, were wereable to agree."

Lopez, originally from Mexico City, helped establish Horeb IglesiaMetodista Unida Hispana, the Hispanic United Methodist Church, whichoffered Spanish religious services in Columbia, according to a profileof Lopez published in Adelante.

Columbia Police said in a probable cause statement that Lopez had asexual relationship with a girl who attended the church that Lopezhelped establish.

Lopez was removed from his pastoral duties immediately after thechurch learned of the charges last summer, according to a statementreleased by the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church."The United Methodist Church does not tolerate sexual misconduct of anykind," the statement said. "Sexual misconduct is a violation of thesacred trust held by clergy and counter to the mission and ministry ofthe Church. Providing a safe environment for everyone in our churchesand their ministries is our highest priority."