Former Priest Pleads Guilty, Begins Sex Offender Counseling, by M. Frances, Catholic Favors, August 31, 2011

Former Priest Pleads Guilty, Begins Sex Offender Counseling

By M. Frances
Catholic Favors
August 31, 2011

http://site.catholicfavors.com/blog/3356/former-priest-pleads-guilty-begins-sex-offender-counseling/

HOUSTON, Texas — News report states that a former priest over a Catholic congregation in Clear Lake pleaded guilty in an adult bookstore sting is now beginning sex offender counseling after.

Houston Police arrested Father Alberto Maullon, 53, in December at the "Big City Adult Book Store" in the 10,100 block of the Gulf Freeway, just a few miles away from the church he led.

At the time of his arrest, the Galveston Houston Diocese was providing no details to reporters about his position at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church or his work around children or counseling at the church, report states. Also, his name no longer appears on the church website.

The Houston Police Department Vice Squad was running a sting at the porn shop, looking for people who were there for sexual activity with others at the store. An undercover officer said he exchanged glances with Father Maullon, who then started masturbating for the undercover officer to see. He was then arrested on a charge of Public Lewdness.

Shortly after his arrest, parishioners expressed support for the priest, with one member suggesting Maullon must have had a good reason for being at the adult book store during the sting. Meanwhile, a guilty plea that leaves no final conviction on his record would certainly make him eligible for future employment around kids or in other positions of trust after his probation is finished.

In his guilty plea, he was fined $300 and placed on 18-months of Deferred Adjudication probation. The terms of his probation require Maullon to begin sex offender counseling, and he will be monitored as part of the Harris County Probation Department's sex offender caseload.

Mfrances is a staff writer for CatholicFavors.com that deals high quality Catholic related jewelry including affordable baptism gifts, St. Thomas More crosses, and the Paola Carola Italian rosaries collection.