Man steals Virgin Mary picture to fund abortion for his rape victim

A Nebraska man who stole a painting of the Virgin Mary to finance an abortion for a teenager he raped has been convicted of first-degree sexual assault and felony theft.

Douglas County prosecutor Brenda Beadle said today that Aurelio Vallerillo-Sanchez of Omaha pleaded no contest to the charges yesterday and faces up to 70 years in prison when sentenced in October.

Ms Beadle says Vallerillo-Sanchez fled to Mexico with the 300-year-old painting and pregnant teenager in March 2007. He sold the painting taken from an Omaha church and valued at $100,000 (€69,784) for just $3,000 (€2,094).

Vallerillo-Sanchez’s children gave police information about the theft.