California ‘cult’ Leader Sentenced To More Than 200 Years For Sexually Assaulting His Followers

A California cult leader has been sentenced to much than 200 years for sexually assaulting his followers, according to officials.

Sansue Bee Vang, a 58-year-old from Oroville, was sentenced to life successful situation Tuesday aft being recovered blameworthy of molesting 4 young girls and raping 2 women from his congregation, nan Butte County District Attorney’s Office said successful a property release.

Vang was nan leader of a Hmong belief statement called Kev Ntseeg Leej Niam Kee Tiam Vaj Lis Thum, which loosely translates to “Belief successful nan Mother.”

In 2024, an 11-year-old woman and her mother accused Vang of intersexual assault. During an investigation into nan cult leader, 4 much women came guardant pinch their ain allegations of intersexual abuse.

After a week-long proceedings successful February, Vang was convicted of 8 counts of kid molestation and 3 counts of rape.

Supervising Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Bennet, who prosecuted nan case, said astatine Vang’s proceedings that he utilized his cult to “exploit nan powerfulness he imagined for himself and that he had utilized nan organization’s building to soundlessness nan women for years earlier they recovered nan courageousness to travel forward,” according to nan property release.

At his sentencing hearing, 5 of Vang’s six victims said astir really nan intersexual maltreatment they endured has continued to effect their intelligence wellness and familial relationships.

Vang will service 225 years to life, nan maximum condemnation allowed by law. But because of his age, Vang will beryllium eligible for elder parole successful 20 years. He was besides ordered to registry arsenic a activity offender.

It was revealed during nan proceedings that Vang molested 1 kid 5 times erstwhile she was betwixt nan ages of 8 and 10 years old. The woman said Vang threatened to hit her if she told anyone astir nan abuse.

Vang besides raped a female astatine her location doubly and threatened to harm her and her family if she reported nan assaults, according to tribunal testimony.

Three much women testified that, erstwhile they were betwixt nan ages of six and 12 years old, Vang “repeatedly touched them, commented connected their figures, and told them he would wed them 1 day” during his belief ceremonies that they were required to attend, nan DA’s agency said.

The sixth unfortunate said successful tribunal that erstwhile she was astir 19 aliases 20 years old, Vang told her she had to person activity pinch him aliases unspeakable things would hap to her family and community.

Vang’s lawyer claimed during nan proceedings that each nan victims were lying aliases mistaken astir his client’s intent.