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	Former Nipomo Priest Pleads No Contest to Lewd Conduct By Samantha Yale Adobe Press June 15, 2008 http://www.theadobepress.com/articles/2008/06/14/news/news04.txt A former assistant priest at Nipomo's St. Joseph Catholic Church has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of engaging in lewd conduct and a misdemeanor count of soliciting another person to engage in lewd conduct in connection with an incident almost a year ago in which he allegedly fondled an undercover sheriff's deputy at Pirates Cove. Geronimo Cuevas, 52, entered the plea Monday in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, said the case prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Craig VanRooyen. A count of sexual battery was dismissed, VanRooyen said. Cuevas was sentenced to three years' probation, was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and attend an AIDS education class. He was also banned from Pirates Cove. The priest was placed on administrative leave after his July 18 arrest, and remained on leave Monday, according to the Diocese of Monterey. While on leave, Cuevas cannot serve as a priest in any diocese. He will remain on leave until the church's own investigation is complete, diocese officials said. Cuevas was arrested as part of undercover operations by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department responding to complaints from beach visitors who said they saw lewd acts near and in the Pirates Cove parking lot. "The purpose of prosecuting these types of cases that stem from that area are to reclaim a section of the coastline," VanRooyen said Tuesday, so that families can visit Pirates Cove without witnessing lewd activity. Cuevas' attorney, Gerald Carrasco, had no comment. Contact: syale@theadobepress.com
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