Santa Monica Priest Charged with Sexual Battery

Ktla News
July 31, 2012

www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-santa-monica-priest-charged-with-sex-assault,0,1004147.story


SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KTLA) -- Police arrested a Santa Monica priest Monday when he turned turned himself in after learning that he was charged with sexual battery.

Police began investigating Rafael Venegas -- a priest at St. Anne Catholic Church in Santa Ana -- on July 1, according to a news release issued by the Santa Monica Police Department.

The alleged victim -- a 20-year-old woman who does not attend the church -- reported that Venegas sexually assaulted her on the church grounds in September 2011.

Santa Monica's city attorney received the investigators' case last week and charged Venegas with one count of sexual battery and one count of providing alcohol to a minor.

Venegas turned himself in to Santa Monica police Monday, according to the news release.

He was booked into jail and released shortly after when he posted $20,000 bail.

He is set to be arraigned Aug. 3.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8495.