Priest Grassi Sent to Prison, Court Confirms 15-year Sentence

Buenos Aires Herald
September 23, 2013

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/141318/court-confirms-grassi-sentence-priest-sent-to-prison

The first criminal court of Moron has ordered the immediate detention of Julio Cesar Grassi, who was present today as judges ruled that a 15-year prison sentence for sexual abuse of minors would be imposed with immediate effect.

The clergyman was escorted out of the courtroom by law officials after hearing the verdict, and will be transferred to Penitentiary Unit 39 in the Buenos Aires Province locality of Ituzaingo.

Prosecutor Alejandro Varela, speaking earlier in the day, had urged judges to issue an arrest warrant for Grassi, founder of the Happy Children Foundation. "Leaving Grassi in freedom is almost like collaborating with the crime," the attorney fired.

For his part, the priest denied that he was a flight risk and criticised Varela as well as the media for their treatment of him.

"I have never threatened anyone, the prosecutor Varela wants to deceive you and society," he told judges.

"[There is a] media campaign carried out by the Clarin Group so that the court ends up punishing me."