A GARDEN GROVE man serving as a volunteer in a local church was sentenced to five years in prison for sexual offenses against a 14-year-old girl.

A Garden Grove man was sentenced to five years in state prison this week for sexual abuse of a teenage girl.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s office, Vincent Daniel Lavello, 53, had earlier pled guilty to three instances of committing lewd acts on a child, as well unlawful sexual intercourse on a 14-year-old girl to whom he served as a mentor.

Lavello was a volunteer at a church in Garden Grove when he met her. He pleaded guilty of Aug. 17, 2015 of having committed the sex acts on the girl in June and July of 2014. The OCDA’s office stated that “Lavello groomed [the girl] by providing financial assistance to the victim’s family, helping them get an apartment and buying the victim gifts.”

He was arrested on Aug. 17, 2015 by Garden Grove police after “inappropriate text messages” from Lavello to the girl were discovered. In addition to his prison sentence, he must register as a sex offender.