Santa Monica Priest Booked for Alleged Sexual Assault

Contra Costa Times
July 31, 2012

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_21198832/santa-monica-priest-booked-alleged-sexual-assault

The Rev. Rafael Venegas, a priest at St. Anne's Church in Santa Monica, turned himself in to police Monday and was booked for sexual battery.

Santa Monica police began investigating Venegas on July 1 when a 20-year-old woman, who was not a parishioner of the church, reported an assault on her at the church at 2017 Colorado Ave. in September 2011.

Investigators turned the results of their investigation over to the City Attorney's Office, who charged Venegas with a count of sexual battery and another count of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Venegas was accompanied by his attorney when he turned himself in. He posted $20,000 bail and is due to be arraigned on Friday in Division 147 of the Airport Courthouse.

Anyone with additional information on the case was asked to call police at (310) 458-8944 or (310) 458-8460.