PR pastor charged with sexually assaulting boys

San Juan (Puerto Rico), Feb 12 (AP) Authorities say that a Puerto Rican pastor allegedly sexually assaulted three boys at his home. The US Department of Justice has identified the 47-year-old suspect as Nelson Santiago Colon. He is the pastor of a church in Santa Isabel, a small city in southern Puerto Rico. Santiago was arrested yesterday by US agents and Puerto Rico police. Puerto Rico police allege that the boys were sexually assaulted at Santiago's home in Ponce. Authorities say two of the boys were 14 and one was 12 years. He faces federal charges of transporting minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct. It was not known if Santiago had a lawyer. The phone at the pastor's church went unanswered yesterday. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. (AP) IRH 02120646 NNNN