September 13, 2005

Priest paid girls for sex

CANADA
The Leader-Post

Jana G. Pruden
The Leader-Post

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

A Roman Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting child prostitutes in Regina, and has had two charges of making child pornography stayed.

Pedro Surtida Aldea, 67, had originally been scheduled to stand trail before a judge and jury on all four charges, but instead entered guilty pleas to charges of obtaining the sexual services of a girl under the age of 18 on "several occasions" between Dec. 1, 2003 and April 3, 2004, and from another child between Jan. 1, 2004, and April 30, 2004.

After his guilty pleas, two charges of making child pornography by taking photographs of the girls were stayed by the Crown.

At the Crown's request, a pre-sentence report will now be done to look at whether electronic monitoring and sex offender treatment are possibilities in Aldea's case.

Aldea sat quietly with his head down during his brief court appearance, speaking only to enter his pleas.

Posted by kshaw at September 13, 2005 07:35 AM