Arraignment Delayed for Santa Monica Priest Charged with Sexual Battery

By Kate Parkinson-Morgan
The Patch
August 4, 2012

http://santamonica.patch.com/articles/arraignment-delayed-for-santa-monica-priest-charged-with-sexual-battery


The arraignment of a St. Anne's Catholic Church and Shrine priest accused of sexual battery is delayed until later this month.

Rafael Raygoza Venegas, 38, was booked and charged Monday with two misdemeanors, sexual battery and supplying alcohol to someone younger than 21.

The date of the arraignment, during which Venegas will plead either guilty, not guilty or no contest to the charges brought against him, is set for August 21.

Accompanied by his attorney, Venegas came to the Santa Monica Police station Monday afternoon and surrendered after the Santa Monica City Attorney's office filed charges.

"He knew what [we] were investigating him for," said police Sgt. Richard Lewis.

"Usually when that happens, their attorney contacts us, contacts the [city attorney's office] and asks 'if you press charges against my client, let us know.’ They probably don't want him arrested in public," Lewis said.

The police department opened an investigation into allegations brought by a woman on July 1. The woman, who isn't a parishioner at the church, told police the incident occurred on church property near Colorado Avenue and 20th Street in September of last year. St. Anne's Catholic Church is one of three parishes in Santa Monica and is a fixture in the Pico neighborhood. Venegas was appointed "administrator pro tempore" there on July 1, 2011, according to the church's website.