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	Church Bishop Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Charges By Paul LaRocco The Press-Enterprise December 31, 2009 http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2009/12/chruch-bishop-pleads-not-guilt.html A church bishop shot last fall during an attempted robbery pleaded not guilty today to felony drug and stolen weapon charges. Anthony Martinez Garduno, 51, of Home Gardens, was arraigned in Riverside Superior Court on five counts, including possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of a stolen .32-caliber semi-automatic pistol and possession of Lorazepam without a prescription. The medication is sometimes used with alcohol as a date-rape drug. Bail for the head of Our Lady of Tepeyac Church in Home Gardens was set at $250,000. Garduno was arrested Tuesday after Riverside County sheriff's deputies received a tip that he was selling drugs from the church. Authorities also said he was under investigation for molestation of a 17-year-old boy, but no charges have been filed. Garduno, a defrocked Roman Catholic priest, was shot during a September break-in at his church. Investigators believe the suspects may have thought the bishop kept drugs and large amounts of cash inside. He will next appear in court on Monday. Contact: plarocco@PE.com
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