DOWNEY (CA)
KTLA-TV [Los Angeles CA]
April 9, 2025
By Cameron Kiszla
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in finding additional victims of a priest who is accused of sexually abusing a child.
The Rev. Jaime Arriaga-Pedroza, 41, was arrested Thursday, the day after the Archdiocese of Los Angeles received a report “alleging sexual misconduct involving a minor” that was then reported to authorities, church officials said in a statement.
“The Archdiocese has a long-standing commitment to the protection of minors and the reporting and prevention of abuse,” church officials said in a statement. “Allegations of misconduct against anyone serving in the Archdiocese are reported to law enforcement, fully investigated and, under the Zero-Tolerance Policy, anyone who is found to have harmed a minor is permanently removed from any capacity in the Archdiocese. ”
Arriaga-Pedroza, who was ordained in June of last year and served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Downey and Saint Louis of France Catholic Church in La Puente, is accused of sexually abusing a girl on March 22, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. The child’s age has not been disclosed.
Jail records show Arriaga-Pedroza is being held without bail at the Men’s Central Jail, and he’s due to appear in Los Angeles Municipal Court on June 5.
California priest arrested for sex misconduct with a minor
He faces eight felony counts related to sexual abuse, officials said, and detectives believe there could be other victims who have not yet come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to call the LASD Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-LASD (5273) or Sgt. Joseph Cerda at 213-264-8732.
To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.