Former Pastor Arrested Hes Accused of Groping Deputy, The Californian, July 23, 2007

Former Pastor Arrested
He's Accused of Groping Deputy

The Californian
July 23, 2007

http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/NEWS01/707230315/1002

A Roman Catholic priest who formerly served as pastor at a Salinas church has been arrested after he allegedly groped an undercover sheriff's deputy near a private beach in San Luis Obispo County, authorities said.

The Rev. Geronimo Enrique Cuevas, 52, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexual battery and soliciting a lewd act from an adult in a public place, San Luis Obispo County sheriff's Sgt. Brian Hascall said Friday. Cuevas was released on $2,000 bail.

At the time of his arrest, Cuevas was working as an assistant pastor at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Nipomo, part of the Diocese of Monterey. He was placed on administrative leave after the arrest, the diocese said.

The Rev. Geronimo Enrique Cuevas served as pastor at St. Mary of the Nativity Roman Catholic Church in Salinas until about three years ago.

The diocese, in a published statement, said Cuevas "no longer has any faculties to function as a priest."

Cuevas allegedly "grabbed the crotch area" of a male sheriff's deputy working undercover on foot trails leading to Pirate's Cove, a secluded private beach known for nude sunbathing several miles south of San Luis Obispo, Hascall said.

Deputies regularly conduct undercover operations on and around the beach. Two other arrests were made during Wednesday's operation, officials said.

Before his assignment in Nipomo, Cuevas served as pastor at St. Mary of the Nativity Catholic Church at 424 Towt St. in Salinas.

On Sunday, a churchgoer described the priest as someone who had been heavily involved in the betterment of the community.

Enrique Cabrera, who attended an evening Mass on Sunday and was a regular member of the church until he moved to Las Vegas, Nev., two years ago, said he remembers Cuevas as an eloquent and humane priest. Cabrera said Cuevas left the Salinas church about three years ago.

"He's in big trouble now ... but I don't believe he did it," Cabrera said.