Pedophile Priest Back in Jail, Accused of Violating Probation

By Doug Saunders
Orange County Register
May 10, 2012

http://www.ocregister.com/news/castillo-353564-authorities-boy.html

The Rev. Alejandro Castillo, convicted of molesting a child at his parish and released early from jail on April 21, was back in custody Wednesday.

He was booked back into a San Bernardino County jail after violating his probation terms after his release from jail by attending a gathering in his honor where children were present, authorities said.

The Rev. Alejnadro Castillo was arrested Wednesday by probation authorities.

Castillo, who ministered at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Ontario and previously was in Rialto, was arrested Wednesday by probation authorities and was being held without bail. A May 14 court date has been set, a sheriff's official said.

Prosecutors filed criminal charges against Castillo in connection with one alleged victim - a 12-year-old boy from Ontario who said he was abused in late 2008, according to court records.

No criminal charges were filed in connection with four other alleged victims due to insufficient evidence or because the allegations were too old, authorities said.

The 12-year-old boy said that during overnight stays with Castillo, the priest touched his genitals and forced the boy to touch Castillo's genitals, according to authorities.

Castillo was convicted of committing lewd sexual acts with the boy and sentenced in 2011 to one year in prison. After completing his sentence, he was to register as a sex offender.

"Bishop Gerald Barnes has publicly said that Father Castillo will never publicly minister in this diocese again," San Bernardino Diocese spokesman John Andrews said Wednesday. "The bishop had no knowledge of the party."

Joelle Casteix, the regional director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a written statement, "This is troubling. Seeing Castillo celebrated by friends and supporters, other potential victims could be scared into silence."

SNAP says it is the oldest and largest support group for victims of clergy abuse.

"There may be other victims out there who may be too ashamed to come forward because their friends and family threw a predator a party," Casteix said. "We encourage anyone who has been abused or witnessed sexual abuse to contact the authorities immediately."