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	Priest Enters Not Guilty Plea The Monterey County Herald July 9, 2009 http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_12791919?nclick_check=1 A Salinas priest was arraigned Wednesday on charges that he molested a 16-year-old boy. Judge Terrance Duncan ordered Rev. Antonio Cortes, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, to return to court July 30 for a pretrial hearing. Cortes will stand trial on charges of sodomy with a minor, two felony counts of child pornography, and 12 misdemeanor counts that include child molestation, furnishing alcohol to a minor, cruelty to a child and performing an immoral act before a child. The 41-year-old priest, who was pastor at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Salinas where the alleged crimes occurred, was accompanied to court by a large cadre of parishioners, who believe he is innocent and have steadfastly supported him. Cortes has been out on bail since June 5, when parishioners posted a $10,000 bond after Judge Duncan reduced the priest's bail from $750,000 to $100,000 after a preliminary hearing. Cortes was arrested April 16, and spent nearly two months in jail. Cortes, barred from the church rectory, has been living with a family since his release.
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