By Erika Wurst
The Fox Valley Villages Sun
January 22, 2010
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/foxvalleysun/news/2004944,4_1_JO22_PRIEST_S1-100122.article
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| The Rev. Alejandro Flores has been charged Wednesday with seven felonies for allegedly having sexual contact with a now-13-year-old boy between 2005 and 2010. Flores reportedly is the child's godfather. |
A priest accused of sexually assaulting a St. Charles boy could face deportation if convicted on the charges, according to Kane County prosecutors.
The Rev. Alejandro Flores, who until recently served at Holy Family Church in Shorewood, had his first appearance in Kane County Court on Thursday. His attorney said the priest is expected to plead not guilty to the seven felony charges filed against him.Flores, 37, was charged Wednesday after he was released from a Joliet hospital where he was recovering from injuries he suffered during an apparent suicide attempt earlier this month. Authorities said he jumped from a choir loft at a now-closed Joliet church, falling 20 feet onto the pews below.
Flores appeared uninjured Thursday as he entered the courtroom, his head down and wearing orange prison garb. He remained silent and used a Spanish-language interpreter during the hearing.
Five years of alleged abuse
The charges against Flores allege the priest, who was identified as the victim's godfather, had sexual contact with the now 13-year-old boy over the course of the last five years, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Flores put his mouth and his hand on the boy's penis, both at the boy's home and in Flores' car, on numerous occasions.
According to state's attorneys, the child's mother's boyfriend noticed the sexual activity on two occasions, but no further details have been released.
Prosecutors told the judge that while in the hospital, Flores apparently made a statement to another priest about one incident of sexual contact with the boy. According to prosecutors, Flores said he visited the boy and his mother three months ago, and the mother gave him tequila. Flores said he woke up to find the boy touching him inappropriately -- contact he says he did not initiate.
Flores' attorney, Glenn Sowa, said Thursday that he was hired by parishioners who believe Flores is innocent, but would not confirm which church those parishioners attend.
St. Mary's Church
Before his assignment in Shorewood, Flores was a seminarian assigned to St. Mary's Church in West Chicago. State's attorneys said he was at that church when the alleged sexual contact began.
Flores is a native of Bolivia and could face deportation if convicted, authorities said.
After beginning his seminary studies and working as a missionary in Bolivia, he attended Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis., and worked during breaks at St. Mary's Parish in West Chicago. Flores was ordained last June and had been at Holy Family in Shorewood since then.
Sowa said he is not sure who will be able to pay Flores' $100,000 bond set Thursday. If bond is posted, Flores will be ordered to surrender his passport, have no contact with the victim or his family, and have no contact with any child age 17 or younger.
If convicted on all counts (one of predatory criminal sexual assault, two of criminal sexual assault and four of aggravated criminal sexual abuse), he could face a maximum of 67 years in prison.
Flores is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. Feb. 10.
Contect: ewurst@scn1.com
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