BishopAccountability.org
	Still No Decision on Possible Charges for SR Bishop By Martin Espinoza The Press Democrat September 13, 2006 http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060913/NEWS/609130334/1033/NEWS01 The Sonoma County district attorney has yet to decide if criminal charges will be filed against Santa Rosa Diocese Bishop Daniel Walsh. Walsh is suspected of failing to immediately report suspected child sex abuse by a Sonoma priest. State law requires clergymen, among others, to immediately report any suspicions of child sex abuse and to follow up by fax or e-mail within 36 hours. A violation is a misdemeanor and has a potential penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The decision to pursue criminal charges rests with District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua. Sonoma County sheriff's investigators sent a report of their investigation to the District Attorney's Office three weeks ago saying that "the evidence indicates that this case is worthy of district attorney review," according to Sheriff's Lt. Dave Edmonds. Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos said Tuesday that Walsh's public admission that he violated his reporting obligations under state law does not make prosecution a foregone conclusion. "Admitting that he made a mistake is only one factor in the determination as to what charges, if any, are going to be filed," said Scoufos. Walsh publicly told local Catholics more than a month ago that he regretted waiting to contact authorities about fugitive Sonoma priest Xavier Ochoa. Walsh and other church officials first learned of possible sexual improprieties committed by Ochoa on April 28 but did not notify Child Protective Services until three days later. Church officials later reported Ochoa to the Sheriff's Department. Ochoa is believed to have left the area, apparently bound for Mexico, by the time authorities began looking for him.
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