Philadelphia Megachurch 'Serial Predator' Pastor Accused of Sexually Assaulting 3 Children Sentenced to Prison

A megachurch pastor in Philadelphia, who the judge referred to as a “serial predator,” has been sentenced to five to 12 years in prison for sexually assaulting three children.

In February, Mark Hatcher, Sr., 61, of Holy Ghost Headquarters Revival Center, was convicted of rape, statutory sexual assault, and indecent assault.

Two of the convictions stem from Hatcher’s sexual assault of two children to whom he was related — a 6-year-old boy in 2007-2008 and a 15-year-old girl in 2000. The third conviction was for raping a 13-year-old girl in an abandoned home owned by Hatcher’s church.

During his sentencing, Montgomery County Court Judge Thomas Branca said there were two men on trial: one was an active, beloved community leader and pastor, the other was a serial predator, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

According to KYW Newsradio, the judge said he considered the good Hatcher has done, but said “heavier weight goes to the crimes he’s committed.”

Prosecutor Caroline Goldstein argued that Hatcher used his position as pastor to take advantage of people, especially children, and that outweighs his positive actions.

During the trial, one of the victims claimed Hatcher kissed him and touched his bottom under his clothing when the now-22-year-old man was 6 to 7 years old.

Another victim told the court that when he was 6 years old, Hatcher used the boy’s hand to pleasure himself.

The third victim said that when she was 13, Hatcher pinned her to a mattress, covered her mouth to muffle her screams, and then raped her in an abandoned building.

Hatcher has maintained his innocence during the trial and sentencing, saying he hopes “God will heal the three people who a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting,” KYW Newsradio reported.

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At the sentencing hearing, former Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode was one of three witnesses who testified on Hatchers’ behalf. He said Hatcher “brought fundamental changes to Philadelphia and he never heard anything negative about him in 30 years,” according to KYM Newsradio.

When asked if he still supports Hatcher despite his conviction, Goode replied that while he still supports Hatcher, "it’s very challenging and difficult to know the things he has done.”