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	Chilean Priest, Girlfriend, Charged with Abuse of Minors By Paul Herbert Santiago Times January 8, 2010 http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17986:chilean-priest-girlfriend-charged-with-abuse-of-minors&catid=1:other&Itemid=38 A Catholic priest and his girlfriend were accused of soliciting sex from young teenage girls this weekend. Reverend Ricardo Muñoz, 55, was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexually abusing three girls aged 14, 16, and 17, one of whom later bore his child, investigators said on Wednesday. Pamela Ampuero Escobar, 33, the mother of two children previously fathered by Muñoz, has also been charged with soliciting the sexual services of the minors. Muñoz found the youths with the help of Ampuero in August, 2008, who was then caring for them at their home in town of Curacavi near Santiago. Muñoz visited the house of his victims up to three times a week, offering the girls as much as US $90 in exchange for sexual favors, taking them to a series of motels located in the West of the city. One of the victims also became pregnant and later bore his child, who is now 4 years old, said prosecutor Cristian Caceres. According to investigator Jaime Graffigna, Ampuero photographed pornographic images of the three minors and later sent Muñoz the pictures over the Internet. None of the accusations were reported to the police before the story appeared in the newspaper. The priest remained silent as he was taken from jail to the court on Wednesday. The public defender assigned to the case entered a plea of not guilty. If found guilty, Muñoz could face a 15-year sentence. The Catholic bishop in Melipilla, Enrique Troncoso, said he was deeply embarrassed and shocked by the report and vowed to launch an investigation. Muñoz was suspended from his duties as a priest. Muñoz served in Melipilla, 40 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Santiago.
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