Priest Pleads No Contest to Committing Lewd Acts with a Child

News 10
July 5, 2013

http://www.news10.net/news/article/249772/2/Priest-pleads-no-contest-to-committing-lewd-acts-with-a-child

Father Uriel Ojeda

A Northern California priest pleaded no contest Friday to one count of committing lewd acts with a child.

As a result of his plea Rev. Uriel Ojeda will be sentenced to eight years in prison on Aug. 2. He had been charged with seven counts of committing lewd acts with a child; six of the counts were dismissed.

Ojeda is a former parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Redding. The charges stem from an allegation that he molested a 13-year-old in Sacramento County. A press release states from the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office states that Ojeda "admitted the allegation of substantial sexual conduct."

"The victim and her family can move forward with their lives and be proud that they had the courage to report the abuse to the Sacramento Diocese and law enforcement," Deputy District Attorney Allison Dunham said in a press release.

Bishop Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento said in a statement that "justice has been done."

"The harm inflicted on a young child, her family and the many who placed their trust in Fr. Ojeda will still take much time to heal," Soto said.