Sansue Bee Vang, a 58-year-old man who led a Hmong religious organization in Oroville, was sentenced Tuesday to 225 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting multiple members of his congregation, including four young girls. The sentencing in Butte County Superior Court followed a seven-day trial in February where Vang was convicted of eight counts of child molestation and three counts of rape.
Judge Philip Heithecker also ordered Vang to register as a sex offender for life.
Prosecutors described Vang as the founder and leader of Kev Ntseeg Leej Niam Kee Tiam Vaj Lis Thum, a Hmong religious group loosely translated as "belief in the mother." The organization began in Appleton, Wisconsin, moved to Fresno in 2015, and later relocated to Oroville in 2020, where Vang selected families from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Fresno to help build a temple at the base of Table Mountain. Vang was referred to as a "prophet" by his followers and created the group's readings, songs, and requirements.
The case began in 2024 when an 11-year-old girl and her mother came forward alleging sexual assault by Vang. An investigation identified four additional women who testified against him.
During the trial, evidence showed Vang threatened one child with beatings if she disclosed the abuse, and another woman was coerced into sexual intercourse under the threat that Vang, as prophet, could foresee terrible consequences for her family and the Hmong community if she did not comply.
At sentencing, five of the six named victims spoke about the lasting impact of the assaults on their mental health and family relationships. Despite the maximum sentence allowed by law, Vang may be eligible for parole after 20 years under a California law that permits release for inmates aged 50 or older after two decades of continuous incarceration.
Vang would be 78 at his first parole eligibility.