December 19, 2004

Charge against priest dropped

ARIZONA
Fox 11

08:45 PM MST on Saturday, December 18, 2004

By Stephanie Innes / ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Arizona Daily Star
Valencía García

"The case has been dismissed. However, there is still some follow-up to do and it's under review," David Berkman, chief criminal deputy county attorney, said Friday.

Berkman said the Rev. Raúl Valencía García still could be charged with violating state law on reporting suspected child sexual abuse - a possible felony. If he is charged, Berkman predicted it would happen within the next 60 days.

Valencía García, 45, did not return a phone call Friday afternoon. Until recently, he was an associate pastor at St. Monica's Catholic Church, 212 W. Medina Road, but now he is working at St. Jude's Catholic Church in San Luis, near Yuma. He was ordained in June 2003.

Posted by kshaw at December 19, 2004 08:08 AM