Santa Monica Priest Accused of Sexual Battery

By Samantha Tata
NBC Southern California
July 31, 2012

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Rafael-Venegas-Santa-Monica-Priest-Accused-Sexual-Battery-Police-St-Saint-Annes-Church-164385526.html

Rafael Venegas

A Santa Monica priest accused of sexual battery against a 20-year-old woman turned himself in to authorities Monday, police said.

Rafael Venegas, a priest at St. Anne's Church in Santa Monica, has been the target of an investigation since July 1 after the woman, who is not a parishioner of Venegas' church, accused the priest of sexual battery in Sept. 2011, police said.

Accompanied by his attorney, Venegas turned himself in to Santa Monica police where he was booked for one count each of sexual battery and furnishing alcohol to a minor, police said. He was released after posting $20,000 bail.

Venegas is scheduled to be arraigned Friday, Aug. 3.