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	Protecting Kids from Molestation By Colin Lygren KHSL December 3, 2011 http://www.khsltv.com/content/localnews/story/Protecting-Kids-From-Molestation/zr4BvRJNHEiUrA_du8s_0w.cspx [with video] A Catholic priest from Redding has been arraigned on seven charges of child molestation involving a 14-year-old girl. The reverend Uriel Ojeda appeared in Sacramento County Superior Court today. He did not enter a plea. The 32-year-old priest has been a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Redding since 2009. Before that, he served at a parish in woodland. The charges filed today accuse him of lewd acts with a 14-year-old girl on four different dates in 2007 and 2009. Ojeda's attorney asked people not to make judgments until the facts of the case are known. He called Ojeda "a good man who has dedicated his life to helping people." Investigators do not know if there are other victims who have not come forward. Which leaves many people asking, how to protect their own kids and what warning signs to look-out for? Unfortunately there is no surefire way to ensure your child's safety. Trusting someone is just not enough. But experts say you can take several precautions. Helping victims of sexual abuse at the Shasta Family Justice Center, Laural Park knows first hand what victims are going through. "I was a victim of molestation as a child and as I grew up, that affected my ability to deal in relationships, I was standoffish," said Parks. She received therapy as an adult and during the 80's and 90's, studied clergy that molest children. "In general there is about 15 to 17 percent of professionals that sexually exploit there subordinates and that includes clergy," said Parks She found that through a lifetime, a perpetrator could have up to 600 victims. "They actually like children and they care about them but they do not realize the damage they are doing because it is not part of their frame of reference. So they actually think they are not really hurting them," said Parks Sandra Wilson, a family dynamics therapist, says there are a few steps parents to protect their kids. "Talking to your child, reading stories to your children, talking about good touch bad touch helps the child know that they do have some ways of avoiding these uncomfortable, difficult or potentially dangerous situations," said Wilson. Kids should not to keep secrets with other adults. But open communication with parents is key in being alerted of threats. She adds, anyone could be a potential threat. "So if one in four people are effected then we have to do a whole lot more about keeping our children safe in our community than just looking at priests and coaches," said Wilson. For those who have suffered molestation, it's important to get them therapy as soon as possible. The sooner the issue is handled, the higher likelihood that the incident will not have a long term effect on the child. Contact: clygren@khsltv.com
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