KTLA
December 31, 2009
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-bishop-arrested,0,1699563.story
RIVERSIDE -- A 51-year-old defrocked priest pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony charges stemming from the alleged sale of drugs out of his Home Gardens church.
Bail was set at $250,000 for Anthony Martinez Garduno, who also made headlines in September, when he was shot outside Our Lady of Tepeyac during a robbery attempt.
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| Anthony Martinez Garduno (Photo Courtesy Riverside Co. Sheriff's Dept. |
The sell-proclaimed Catholic bishop was charged Thursday with one felony and misdemeanor count each of possession of a controlled substance for sale, two felony counts of possession of controlled substances and one felony count of possession of stolen property.
But no charges linked to sex abuse allegations involving a teenage boy were filed by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.
The Diocese of San Bernardino says Garduno is not affiliated with their organization in any way.
Garduno is a defrocked Roman Catholic priest who was tried for heresy and schism in 1996 for forming his own church.
He left St. Edwards Parish in Corona in 1993 after he was accused of asking a man to strip during a marriage counseling session.
He later filed a lawsuit and denied any inappropriate activity.
Garduno's arrest Tuesday stemmed from an investigation launched Dec. 21 on claims that the bishop assaulted a 17-year-old boy, according to sheriff's Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela.
The alleged victim also reported having knowledge of additional sexual assaults by Garduno against underage boys and selling of drugs in the church, Valenzuela said Wednesday.
Investigators served a search warrant at the church, at 13462 Magnolia Ave., and allegedly found evidence linking the bishop to drug sales and possible sexual assaults, Valenzuela said.
In September, Garduno was shot outside his church when he interrupted a robbery. He surprised five suspects, one of whom opened fire, according to sheriff's officials.
The five had allegedly been on a 10-hour robbery spree targeting Denny's and IHOP restaurants in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, according to sheriff's investigators.
Willis Webb Bagley, 38, of Perris, Jacob Zachary Buschow, 19, of Pomona, Anthony Brian Coleman, 21, of Chino, Timothy William Jacquemain, 18, of Pomona, and Andrew Blake Swindle, 23, of Pomona, are all being prosecuted on attempted murder and robbery charges.
Their trial is set for Monday.
Garduno was ordered back to court Monday for a felony settlement conference. A preliminary hearing was tentatively set for Jan. 14.
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