Catholic Priest Assigned to East Mesa Church Among 5 Arrested in a Prostitution Sting

Daily Journal
December 12, 2014

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/095edce15e544d24b1a40d598071c936/AZ--Child-Prostitution-Arrests/

A Catholic priest assigned to an east Mesa church is among five men arrested by Mesa police in a sting operation that targeted prostitution involving underaged girls.

Mesa police detectives posed as 16-year-old girls and advertised their services on a website known for trading in prostitution.

Police say the men came to a Mesa motel at a predetermined time Thursday to rendezvous with the prostitutes for sex.

When the men agreed to have sex with the supposed prostitutes even after being told they were minors, they were arrested on suspicion of child prostitution.

Police say the suspects include 49-year-old Solomon Bandiho, who's a parochial administrator at Holy Cross Parish.

Church officials say Bandiho was appointed to the parish in July.

It was unclear Friday if he has a lawyer yet.