By Jim Schultz
Record Searchlight
December 7, 2011
www.redding.com/news/2011/dec/07/suspended-priests-hearing-delayed/
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| Ojeda's bail has been set at $5 million. |
A suspended Redding priest charged with seven felony counts of child molestation failed again Tuesday to enter a plea in Sacramento County Superior Court, a spokeswoman with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said.
The Rev. Uriel Ojeda, 32, who had been assistant pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Redding, surrendered to law enforcement officials in Sacramento County last week after the diocese received a complaint from a parishioner's family, Bishop James Soto said last week. He was booked at the Sacramento County Jail with bail set at $5 million.
Ojeda, who faces prison and being required to register as a sex offender if convicted of the charges against him, made his first court appearance Friday.
He did not enter a plea at that time.
A bail review hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday was put off until Dec. 19 after Sacramento defense attorney Jesse Ortiz sought a continuance to review additional reports.
Ojeda is accused of seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a teenage girl over a two-year span — starting when she was 14 — in Sacramento and Shasta counties, according to the criminal complaint filed against him by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.
Church officials claimed last week that none of the alleged sexual encounters occurred in the Redding area.
But the criminal compliant claims otherwise.
The complaint alleges that the first three incidents, all in the victim's bedroom in Sacramento County, took place between June 29, 2007, and June 30, 2009.
But four other incidents are alleged to have occurred in a swimming pool, a bathroom and a bedroom in Shasta County between July 1, 2009, and Aug. 30, 2009, according to the criminal complaint.
According to the first count in the criminal complaint, Ojeda allegedly entered the girl's bedroom in Sacramento County and touched her inappropriately.
The seven-count complaint also alleges he fondled the girl and kissed her during later encounters with her in Sacramento County.
In addition, while they were in Shasta County, Ojeda touched the girl's breast in a bathroom and in a swimming pool and also pulled her on top of him, the complaint contends.
Ojeda, who has been described as a charismatic leader and speaker who related well with the parish's younger audience, had been assistant pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Redding for two years.
Sacramento Roman Catholic Diocese spokesman Kevin Eckery said last week that Ojeda, who became acquainted with the alleged victim and her family through his work as a priest in Sacramento, has been suspended.
The church held a prayer vigil Friday night after Ojeda made his first appearance in Sacramento County Superior Court.
Locally, Ojeda was involved with the Shasta Deanery, a youth group that combined parishes in Redding, Anderson and Red Bluff.
The group disbanded earlier this year.
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