Argentine Supreme Court Confirms 15-Year Sex Abuse Term for 'Happy Children' Priest

Windsor Star
September 19, 2013

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Argentine+Supreme+Court+confirms+15year+abuse+term+Happy/8933894/story.html

In this June 10, 2009 file photo, Argentine Catholic priest Julio Cesar Grassi talks to reporters as he leaves a courthouse after being found guilty of sexual abuse in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, Argentina's Supreme Court upheld the 15-year prison sentence for Grassi, convicted of sexually abusing a boy in his "Happy Children Foundation." The victim's attorney called for Grassi to be put behind bars quickly now that his conviction is confirmed.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentina's Supreme Court has upheld the 15-year prison sentence of a priest convicted of sexually abusing a boy in his "Happy Children" foundation, prompting the victim's attorney on Thursday to call for the cleric's immediate arrest.

The Rev. Julio Cesar Grassi maintained his innocence during the appeal, continuing to live in a home across the street from the foundation despite the conviction and additional allegations he abused more than a dozen children there. The court found him guilty of abusing one boy, with the rest of the charges dismissed for lack of evidence.

That victim's attorney, Juan Pablo Gallego, said Grassi should be arrested lest he try to escape now that his pedophilia conviction has been confirmed.

The Supreme Court of Justice in Buenos Aires province late Wednesday upheld Grassi's conviction for two cases of aggravated sexual abuse and a third of corruption committed against Gallego's client, who was a teenager in 1996.

Gallego told the cable network Todo Noticias that Grassi is "a dangerous pedophile" who could try to escape. The priest's attorneys have made no comment on their client's current situation.

Over the past year, the priest was held under house arrest, and then was freed under certain conditions as his sentence was delayed pending the appeal's outcome.

Grassi was well known for his work as president of the Happy Children foundation, which operated several children's homes.

Through television appearances and other campaigns, Grassi raised millions of dollars for the foundation, many of the donations coming from prominent figures who distanced themselves from the priest after the allegations surfaced.