SACRAMENTO (CA)
The Sacramento Bee
By Andy Furillo
afurillo@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012
Supporters of the Rev. Uriel Ojeda were rewarded for waiting in the darkness Monday as the Catholic priest posted bail and was released from the Sacramento County Main Jail.
More than 50 people prayed for and flew balloons to celebrate the release of the Sacramento diocesan priest who faces child molestation charges.
Ojeda, 32, is accused of seven counts of molesting a girl under the age of 14 while he served at parishes in Woodland and Redding. He had been jailed in lieu of $5 million bail until Sacramento Superior Court Judge Marjorie Koller last week lowered it to $700,000.
Defense attorney Jesse Ortiz initially expected Ojeda to be released by 5 p.m. By 6:30 p.m., Ojeda’s supporters scrambled to post the collateral that would ensure his freedom. At 9 p.m., supporters were told it could be another hour or two.
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