NEW JERSEY
NJ.com
By Ben Horowitz | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on June 23, 2016
PATERSON — Friends and relatives of a Passaic priest accused of inappropriately touching and kissing a 14-year-old girl spoke on his behalf during his trial Wednesday, depicting him as a moral and caring person, according to an account in The Record.
As reported by The Star-Ledger, the Rev. Jose Lopez, now 37, was charged in 2013 with luring the girl to his church residence and kissing her. He is charged with attempted sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, luring and child endangerment, The Record said.
Seven character witnesses testified on Lopez’ behalf in Superior Court in Paterson, including church member Cindy Negrete, who said she had known Lopez “a long time” and called him “an amazing person … I know he would never, ever do something like this,” The Record reported.
Gloria Shope, a retired school administrator, said she had known Lopez at a Morris County church she attended, according to the newspaper. “He is a loyal friend, trustworthy and very responsible, caring and one of the holiest priests I know,” she said.
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