Latest news with #OurLadyofPerpetualHelpChurch
CBS News
09-04-2025
- CBS News
LA County Catholic priest faces child sexual abuse charges
A Catholic priest from Downey remains in custody after Los Angeles County prosecutors charged him with several counts of child sexual abuse on Monday. Jaime Arriaga, 41, was remanded without bail after pleading not guilty to six felony counts related to the case. Most of the charges from the alleged sexual abuse happened in early February, according to court records. However, prosecutors also charged him with an assault that allegedly happened more than a month later on March 22. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said Arriaga started presiding at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in January 2024 as a transitional deacon before being ordained as a priest six months later. The archdiocese added that it learned about the allegations on April 2. It immediately dismissed Arriaga from the ministry and reported the case to investigators. Arriaga surrendered himself to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department the following day, according to the archdiocese. "The Archdiocese has a long-standing commitment to the protection of minors and the reporting and prevention of abuse. 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," officials said in a statement. Last October, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $880 million to settle sex abuse claims made by more than 1,300 alleged victims dating back to the 1940s. The settlement brings the overall amount the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has paid out to settle sex abuse lawsuits to nearly $1.5 billion, following a $660 million settlement with about 500 alleged victims in 2007. "We encourage anyone who may have experienced any misconduct involving Fr. Arriaga to please contact law enforcement and the Office of Victims Assistance Ministry at (213) 637-7650 or toll-free number (800)-355-2545. We offer our prayers for everyone impacted by this matter," the archdiocese said in a statement.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
California priest arrested for sex misconduct with a minor
A Roman Catholic priest serving in Downey has been arrested for alleged sexual misconduct with a minor. The Rev. Jaime Arriaga, who was ordained in June of last year, surrendered to law enforcement on Thursday, the day after the Archdiocese of Los Angeles received a report 'alleging sexual misconduct involving a minor,' church officials said in a statement. The Archdiocese reported the allegation to law enforcement and removed Arriaga from ministry, officials said. He had been serving as a diocesan priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Downey since January 2024, first as a transitional deacon and then as a priest, though he has since been scrubbed from the Archdiocese's website. Angelus, the news arm of the Archdiocese, said Arriaga, 41, also served at St. Louis of France in La Puente prior to his ordination. '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. ' Jail records show Arriaga is being held without bail at Men's Central Jail. His next appearance in court is scheduled for June 5. Anyone with information about Arriaga is asked to call law enforcement. Alternatively, tipsters can reach out to the Office of Victims Assistance Ministry at 213-637-7650 or toll-free number 800-355-2545. 'We offer our prayers for everyone impacted by this matter,' church officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
