BishopAccountability.org
	Ukiah Priest Focus of Sex Investigation By Mike Geniella Press Democrat January 29, 1999 Ukiah police said Thursday the agency has opened an investigation into complaints that a former Ukiah priest sexually accosted four young men who belonged to Latino youth groups at St. Mary's Church. Police Capt. Dan Walker said, "We are looking into possible criminal sexual misconduct involving the Rev. Jorge Hume." Hume could not be reached Thursday for comment on the Ukiah police investigation. Santa Rosa attorney Irma Perez Cordova, who represents Hume, also could not be reached. Cordova earlier this week said the 41-year-old priest denies all of the sexual allegations. Four Ukiah men made the allegations, which range from groping to masturbating a man while he was asleep, in a statement taped for church officials. All the men were over age 18. Earlier this week, representatives of the Diocese of Santa Rosa said Hume was relieved of his current duties at St. John's Catholic Church in Napa pending a church investigation into a Napa man's allegation that he was sexually accosted by Hume soon after he was reassigned to that parish in February, 1998. The church investigation was launched after the 19-year-old man contacted representatives of Bishop Patrick Ziemann, according to diocesan attorneys. Ukiah police said its investigation was opened after detectives on Tuesday interviewed some of the four men who have alleged Hume sexually abused them. Capt. Walker declined Thursday to identify the men or to say how many had come to police asking that their allegations be pursued. Walker said it could be several days, or even weeks, before police complete the investigation and decide if the results merit further review by the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for possible criminal prosecution. "At this point, all I can say is that we intend on doing a complete investigation," said Walker.
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