BishopAccountability.org
	Sex Case against Priest Is Dropped By Kristen Reed Orlando Sentinel [Deltona] June 1, 2007 http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-vpriest0107jun01,0,1851394.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-volusia Prosecutors are not pursuing criminal charges against a Deltona priest accused of participating in sexual battery on a man, officials said Thursday. There was "insufficient evidence" to proceed with a case against the Rev. Carlos Bedoya, State Attorney's Office spokeswoman Linda Pruitt said. The pastor of St. Clare Catholic Church has been under investigation since October and was removed from his post the following month. Volusia County sheriff's investigators forwarded a complaint in December to the State Attorney's Office, which has been re-interviewing witnesses and collecting additional evidence since then. According to the criminal report, Bedoya was accused of helping David Estrada commit a sex act on a 35-year-old man at the priest's home. Estrada, 24, also is not being charged in the case. Officials at the Diocese of Orlando had not yet received word about the end of the investigation and could not comment on whether Bedoya would be returning to his parish. Bedoya did not return a call for comment. The case got the attention of a national support group for victims of priest abuse, which criticized the way the diocese handled the accusations. The group's director said Thursday that he was not surprised by the result. "The outcome might have been very different had the bishop shown real leadership and courage and actively urged anyone with information to call the law," said David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Clohessy said now that the investigation is complete, his group would try to contact the alleged victim to offer support. Kristen Reed can be reached at 386-851-7924 or kreed@orlandosentinel.com.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.