The Beacon-News
January 20, 2010
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2002537,Priest-taken-into-custody-assault_AU012010.article
 |
| The Rev. Alejandro (Alex) Flores |
Out of hospital after jumping from church balcony
ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP -- A Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually preying on a young St. Charles boy over five years was charged Wednesday with seven felonies.
Alejandro Flores, 37, of Shorewood, was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault, and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to the Kane County state's attorney's office.
He is accused of having sexual contact with a St. Charles boy between Jan. 1, 2005, and Jan. 1, 2010. The boy was under the age of 13 when the alleged sexual contact began, the state's attorney said.
The boy's family contacted the Joliet Diocese on Jan. 3, and on Jan. 4 went to St. Charles police. An investigation was started on Jan. 4 by Kane County's Child Advocate Center.
Detectives were reportedly on the way to interview Flores on Jan. 6, when he went missing. At about 12:30 p.m. that day, he was found on the floor of the now-closed St. Mary's Carmelite Church in Joliet, having apparently jumped 20 feet from the choir loft in an attempted suicide. He reportedly suffered head trauma in the fall, and spent time in intensive care.
Flores was taken into custody on Wednesday by Joliet police. He is currently in custody in the Kane County Jail in St. Charles Township.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at (630) 208-5160.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.