Sex Crime Charges against Priest Dropped

WWAY
July 17, 2012

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2012/07/17/sex-crime-charges-against-priest-dropped


BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) -- The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh says prosecutors in Brunswick County have dropped criminal charges against a Duplin County priest.

Fr. Edgar Sepulveda was charged in early 2010 with second-degree sexual offense and sexual battery with a 17-year-old boy.

The Diocese says it found out Friday that the Brunswick County District Attorney's Office has dismissed the charges that stem from an incident in 2009. The Diocese placed Sepulveda on administrative leave after learning of the allegations against him. The Diocese says he is still on administrative leave.

At the time of his arrest, deputies said the priest was ministering for a youth group in Brunswick County, but had no place to stay. One of the youth group member's parents offered their home, and that's where deputies said the incident happened.

At the time, Duplin County also had an open investigation into Sepulveda. No word on the status of that investigation.

With the Brunswick County criminal investigation over, the Diocese has resumed its own investigation that was paused by request of prosecutors.