February 02, 2005

Hunt Is On for Ex-Priest Charged in Abuse Cases

CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Times Staff Writer

A defrocked Roman Catholic priest was charged Tuesday with molesting two teenage altar boys after allegedly plying them with alcohol, cash and pornographic movies while he served parishes in Coachella and Perris in the 1980s.

Jesus "Father Jesse" Armando Dominguez, 55, allegedly abused the boys over a four-year period and faces 58 counts of sexual abuse. Dominguez was registered as a sex offender in 2001 when he was convicted of trying to take nude pictures of a 15-year-old boy from La Mirada.

Authorities believe the former priest has fled to Mexico, where he may have relatives.

"We're looking for him, working with all authorities, including Mexico," said Sgt. Earl Quinata, Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesman. "We're putting as many resources as possible into this. Based upon his offenses, he's a priority for us."

Posted by kshaw at February 2, 2005 06:50 AM