A Tucson man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor under 15. The investigation began in October 2023, and Mora was arrested in April 2025. Jose Mora pleaded guilty on September 28, 2026, to one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor under 15, and a judge handed down the decade-long sentence on October 27, 2026.
Mora met his victims through Tucson's Golden Dawn Tabernacle church, according to kold.com, which reported that police said the alleged incidents happened between 2004 and 2012, when the victims were 12 to 14 years old. He originally faced five counts of child molestation and three counts of sexual conduct with a minor before the case resolved with his guilty plea to the single attempted-conduct charge, per the same report. KVOA reported that Mora received credit for more than 500 days already served and must register as a sex offender upon his release.
How Detectives Built the Case Over Two Years
The investigation began in October 2023, according to KVOA, and gained momentum when Tucson Police detectives identified Mora as a suspect after reviewing a news article containing statements that appeared to confirm his involvement, per the outlet. A second victim came forward in January 2025, as reported by kvoa.com, prompting detectives to uncover multiple incidents involving young boys from the congregation. KGUN9 similarly described how detectives uncovered multiple incidents of inappropriate contact between Mora and several young boys who were members of the church's congregation.
The break in the case came in the spring of 2025. Federal authorities in Eloy, Arizona, informed Tucson police on April 10, 2025, that Mora was already in custody on an unrelated matter, according to the same kvoa.com report. Detectives interviewed Mora in Eloy that same day and secured an arrest warrant based on the evidence they had gathered. He was transported to the Pima County Jail on April 17, 2025, and booked on the original five counts of child molestation and three counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
A Pastor Faces Separate Charges
The case also drew in Golden Dawn Tabernacle's pastor, Isaac Noriega, who was charged with two counts of failure to report neglect of a minor after detectives said he failed to report allegations involving Mora, according to kold.com. The church, described in reporting as located on Tucson's southside, was formerly known as Tabernaculo Emanuel.
Court records reviewed by news outlets contain some conflicting details about Mora. kold.com identified him as 57 years old, while tucson.com reported his age as 59 in connection with a separate indictment. Tucson.com also previously reported that a second indictment, filed in 2026, charged Mora with continuous sexual abuse of a child and sexual conduct with a minor under 15, tied to alleged conduct from 1999 to 2002 — though that outlet's earlier report indicated Mora's sentencing had not yet been set and that he was being held without bond, a detail that predates his October 27 sentencing.
What Arizona Law Says About the Charges
Under Arizona law, sexual conduct with a minor is defined by statute as intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with a person under 18, according to the Arizona Legislature.
Victims played a crucial role in the investigation that ultimately led to Mora's prosecution. The case illustrates how allegations rooted in a trusted community institution took years, and the courage of more than one victim coming forward, before charges followed.
