Woodland Priest Charged with Molestation Reaches Plea Deal

KCRA
July 5, 2013

http://www.kcra.com/news/woodlan-priest-facing-molestation-charges-reaches-plea-deal/-/11797728/20853212/-/irs6dd/-/index.html

A priest accused of sexually molesting a 13-year-old girl entered a no-contest plea agreement Friday.

Uriel Ojeda served the Holy Rosary Church in Woodland for two years beginning in 2007 and initially pleaded not guilty to the molestation charges.

Ojeda pleaded no-contest to one count with the agreement that several other counts would be dismissed.

According to the Sacramento Diocese, the alleged offenses occurred in private residences, not on church property.

Prosecutors said in court the priest slipped into the child's bedroom after her family went to sleep and molested the girl in her bed between June 27, 2007 and June 30, 2009.

Ojeda faces a maximum term of eight years in state prison. His sentencing has been scheduled for August 2.

The priest has been suspended from the diocese while the criminal proceedings were underway.

Out of view of the public, and press, the priest was taken into the sheriff's custody and held in the Sacramento County jail without bond until his sentencing.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys left the courtroom without commenting.