Santa Monica St. Anne's Church Priest Pleads to Battery Charge

By Brenton Garen
Santa Monica Mirror
November 15, 2012

http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/Santa-Monica-St-Annes-Church-Priest-Pleads-To-Battery-Charge/36083

Rafael Venegas, former priest at St. Anne's Church in Santa Monica, pleaded to two misdemeanor charges on Nov. 9 in relation to a sexual assault that occurred in September 2011.

Former Santa Monica St. Anne's Church priest Rafael Venegas pleaded to one count of misdemeanor battery and one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor last Friday, Nov. 9.

Venegas was sentenced to one day in jail, 364 days of probation, 160 hours of community service, and counseling through the archdiocese, which must contain a segment dealing with sexual compulsion.

The sentencing stems from a Santa Monica Police Department investigation that began on July 1, 2012.

A 20-year-old woman, who was not a parishioner of St. Anne's, reported that a sexual assault involving Venegas occurred on the property of St. Anne's Parish at 2017 Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica in September 2011.

The Santa Monica City Attorney's Office charged Venegas on July 26.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective DeRyck at 310.458.8944, Sergeant Jacob at 310.458.8460 or the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at 310.458.8495.