CLEVELAND (OH)
WOIO - CBS 19 [Cleveland OH]
October 29, 2023
By Julia Bingel
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A 76-year-old former priest accused of “inappropriately touching” a 15-year-old Westlake girl sick with cancer while giving her a blessing is scheduled to appear in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Monday.
Luis Jesus Barajas will face a judge for an initial appearance. He is being held on a $500,000 bond at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.
Westlake police arrested Barajas on Oct. 23 and charged him with gross sexual imposition.
According to police, the Columbian national has been staying with local families in Lorain County for several months.
On Oct. 10, he was driven to Westlake to pray with the teenager and her family.
Witnesses told police Barajas used blankets and clothing to to hide his actions and his movements during the blessing were “unconventional.” Another Catholic priest learned of the incident and reported it to police on Oct. 20.
Barajas was accused of sexual misconduct involving juveniles in the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA around 1989 and sent back to Columbia, said Westlake police.
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