Long Beach Priest Arrested for Sexual Misconduct

Gazettes
July 24, 2012

http://www.gazettes.com/news/crime/long-beach-priest-arrested-for-sexual-misconduct/article_9016e51a-d5d7-11e1-8830-0019bb2963f4.html

A Long Beach priest was arrested Monday and charged with nine counts of sexual assault on three women, including one felony count of lewd acts with a child.

Father Luis Jose Cuevas, a parish priest at St. Athanasius Catholic Church was arrested by Long Beach police with assistance of the United States Marshal’s Office at a residence in the city of San Jacinto. He was being held in Long Beach City jail on $1 million bail pending arraignment, which was scheduled for Wednesday, July 25.

According to the report from Sgt. Aaron Eaton of the media detail for the Long Beach Police Department, Cuevas, 67, has served at St. Athanasius for the last seven years, living on the grounds at 5390 Linden Ave. In April this year, two women reported to the Long Beach police that they had been victims of sexual battery.

Both women said they initially filed reports with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles before talking with Long Beach police.

During the investigation, a third victim came forward. Eaton said that she was a 17-year-old who reported repeated incidents of inappropriate touching over a period of two years. That is the allegation resulting in the felony charge.

Long Beach officers presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office last Thursday, July 19. The DA filed eight misdemeanor charges in addition to the felony count.

Police say there may be additional victims, and ask that anyone with information contact the Sex Crimes Detail’s Tip Line at 570-7878. Anonymous tips may be submitted via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com.