Conservative Babylon

See all entries for Antonio Cortes

October 26, 2009

The sex-crime case against the Rev. Antonio Cortes can proceed, a judge ruled Friday.

Judge Larry Hayes said there was sufficient evidence presented at a June 4 preliminary hearing to hold Cortes for trial on charges of engaging in sodomy with a minor and possessing child pornography.

In a courtroom packed with Cortes’ supporters, Hayes rejected a motion by Cortes’ defense attorney, Eugene Martinez, who argued that prosecutor Rolando Mazariegos failed on multiple levels to provide probable cause to hold the priest. …

Cortes, who is suspended from his duties as pastor of St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Salinas, is accused of assaulting a 16-year-old boy in the rectory of the church on April 14, then providing him alcohol. The boy told police Cortes had been giving him “spiritual massages” and alcohol for a few years, beginning at Holy Trinity Church in Greenfield, where Cortes was previously assigned.

More at the Monterey County Herald.

Next court appearance: November 13, 2009.

June 5, 2009

Preliminary hearing in Salinas priest molestation case under way
The Californian.com, June 5, 2009

Accused Salinas priest to be freed on bail
The Californian.com, June 5, 2009

UPDATE: Salinas priest to stand trial in child molestation
The Californian.com, June 5, 2009

Graphic Details Brought to Light of Priest Molestation
KION, June 5, 2009

May 1, 2009

Friday’s previously scheduled preliminary hearing for a Salinas parish priest accused of child molestation has been delayed, the defense attorney’s office said.

The preliminary hearing, which would determine whether the Rev. Antonio Cortes will stand trial on charges he faces, has been moved to May 22.

Cortes faces three felony counts of sodomy of a person under the age of 18 and possession of child pornography and 12 misdemeanor counts of child cruelty, providing alcohol to a minor, child molestation and immoral acts before a child.

More at the The Californian

April 30, 2009

… The latest discovery of numerous underage porn videos on Cortes’ laptop led the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office to file two felony counts of possession of child pornography on top of the original felony and 12 misdemeanor charges.

According to Deputy District Attorney Rolando Mazariegos, Cortes began giving “spiritual massages” to a young male at Greenfield’s Holy Trinity Catholic Church about two years ago. Cortes allegedly asked the then 14-year-old boy to lie down while he rubbed his body, and would offer the teenager brandy.

Their relationship continued when Cortes took over as head pastor of East Salinas’ St. Mary’s of the Nativity Church, one of the biggest parishes in the county. Mazariegos says the massages turned sexual on April 14, when Cortes allegedly sodomized the boy. …

Investigators also allegedly found pictures of topless juveniles on Cortes’ cell phone and child pornography on his computer. Cortes pleaded not guilty to all the charges. …

More at the Monterey County Weekly

April 23, 2009

The Rev. Antonio Cortes pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon as more than 100 of his supporters looked on in Monterey County Superior Court Salinas. …

At his arraignment Wednesday, Judge Adrienne Grover denied a request for a bail reduction by Cortes’ defense attorneys, Miguel Hernandez and J. Hernandez. …

The Diocese of Monterey has said it will not pay for Cortes’ attorney fees or bail. …

Prosecutor Rolando Mazariegos, a Monterey County deputy district attorney, said Cortes has been charged with one felony count of sodomy with a person under the age of 18 and 12 misdemeanor counts of child molestation, providing alcohol to a minor and immoral acts before a child. …

In the investigation, Mazariegos said, police found Web sites of gay pornography stored in Cortes’ home computer. …

More at The Californian