GUAM
Marianas Variety
19 Mar 2015 By Jasmine Stole – jasmine@mvguam.com – Variety News Staff
HAGÅTÑA — Following the arrest of Rev. Luis Venancio Benavente Camacho, 29, the Archdiocese of Agana announced his resignation as pastor of San Dimas parish in Merizo and San Dionisio parish in Umatac effective immediately.
According to A.J. Balajadia, Guam Police Department public information officer, Camacho was found with a 17-year-old girl at a beach in Agat Tuesday morning. Balajadia said Agat precinct officers arrested Camacho at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Police charged him with custodial interference for being with a female minor who was not in school at the time the priest and the girl were found parked at a beach in Agat, Balajadia said.
Camacho was booked and released. Police and the Agana Archdiocese did not issue further details related to Camacho’s arrest.
Yesterday morning, the Office of the Attorney General said it had no knowledge of Camacho’s arrest. Usually, the AG’s office does not pursue criminal charges until after it is given information by the police.
The archdiocese issued a short statement yesterday evening regarding Camacho’s arrest:
“The Archdiocese of Agana was made aware that Father Luis was booked and released yesterday, March 17, 2015. The alleged offense is custodial interference, according to information provided by the Guam Police Department. The archdiocese has initiated a canonical investigation and is cooperating fully with civil authorities. In the meantime, Father Luis’ faculties have been restricted.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.