Chile Priest Rogel Pinuer Faces Jail in Temuco Sex Case

BBC News
August 21, 2013

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23777312

[with video]

A Chilean priest has been convicted of sexually abusing four children who were under his care at a young people's home in the city of Temuco.

The court heard how Orlando Rogel Pinuer, 53, gave teenagers alcohol and money in exchange for sexual acts.

Prosecutor Omar Merida said there was evidence Rogel had abused other youths for years. He accused the Catholic Church of failing to co-operate.

The priest faces 15 years in prison, and will be sentenced on Sunday.

He carried out the abuse while acting as administrator of the San Juan Bosco young people's home in Temuco between 2006 and 2011.

His victims were aged between 14 and 16 at the time.

The prosecutor asked for a 15-year sentence because he said the abuse had been going on for many years.

"The evidence we presented showed that these same acts had been occurring for at least the last 20 years," said Mr Merida.