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	Former Catholic Priest in Court, Accused of Molesting Boy Former Pacoima Priest George Miller Charged with Three Felony Counts of Lewd Acts on a Child from 1988-1991 ABC 7 July 25, 2007 http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5511683 San Fernando, July 25, 2007 (CNS) - A former Catholic priest charged with molesting a boy while he was assigned to a Pacoima church nearly 20 years ago made his initial court appearance today on felony charges. But George Miller, who is jailed in lieu of $600,000 bail, did not enter a plea. His arraignment was postponed to Aug. 7, court officials said. Miller, 69, of Oxnard, was arrested yesterday in connection with a felony complaint charging him with three felony counts of lewd acts on a child and three counts of sodomy of a person under 14. The alleged molestations took place between March 1988 and March 1991, while Miller was serving at Guardian Angel Church in Pacoima, prosecutors said. According to the District Attorney's Office, Miller met the boy when he was 5 years old. Miller befriended the victim's mother and became a frequent guest at the family's home, eventually taking the child on overnight trips, prosecutors said. "As promised, investigations are ongoing into alleged sexual abuse of minors by priests," District Attorney Steve Cooley said in a statement issued yesterday. "As evidence is developed to sustain criminal filings, we will do so." Miller faces up to 18 years in prison if convicted of all charges. "We applaud this brave victim for being strong enough to disclose the crime and cooperate with the police," theoutreach director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said yesterday. "We hope his courage inspires others to speak up, get help and call law enforcement," Barbara Dorris said. In 2002, Miller was arrested and charged with molesting three boys -- including the older brother of the alleged victim in the current case -- in the 1970s and 1980s while assigned to the Pacoima church. That case was dropped, however, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a California law extending the statute of limitations on sex crimes was unconstitutional.
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