LOS ANGELES (CA)
KTLA-TV [Los Angeles CA]
October 10, 2024
By Josh DuBose
A former Catholic priest, who was with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at the time of his crimes, has pleaded no contest to the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and several special allegations he was charged with, authorities announced Thursday.
Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara, 39, a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit who was associated with numerous churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard, admitted to possessing more than 600 images of CSAM, including images and videos of prepubescent minors under the age of 12, a news release from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office stated.
He has since been removed from the ministry by the Archdiocese and his order, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese told KTLA shortly after his arrest last year.
Prosecutors say the 39-year-old became the target of an investigation after dozens of reports were made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The Ventura County Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force, in April 2023, initiated their own investigation into Martinez-Guevara.
Martinez-Guevara was arrested on Sept. 13, 2023, and search warrants were served at the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in Long Beach where he lived.
The religious institution is next to St. Maria Goretti Church and its school.
“The defendant betrayed the law, and the trust placed in him as a religious leader,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. “Child sexual abuse material preys on the most vulnerable members of our society, and we will continue to ensure that anyone who engages in such heinous crimes is held accountable, no matter their position or title.” Deadly shooting shuts down 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights
Martinez-Guevara pled no contest to possession of child pornography along with special allegations that included:
- Aggravated possession of child pornography, containing more than 600 images
- The crime involved a large quantity of contraband
- Victim was vulnerable
- The manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication or professionalism
“I am grateful for the cooperation of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit,” Senior Deputy DA Howard Wise, who prosecuted the case, said. “I am hopeful that Mr. Martinez-Guevara’s acceptance of guilt today will be the first step in healing the hurt caused by his actions.”
The 39-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9.