Rockford Priest Arrested on Child Sex Charges

By Chris Green
Rockford Register-Star
February 11, 2016

http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160211/rockford-priest-arrested-on-child-sex-charges

A priest living in Rockford was arrested on child sex charges today at his home.

The Rev. Alfredo Pedraza, 50, was charged in Kane County with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 13. He is being held in the Kane County Jail on $50,000 bond.

The Rockford Diocese issued a news release today stating they were informed by the Kane County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Marshall’s Office that the Rev. Alfredo Pedraza was arrested at his home in Rockford.

According to the release, Pedraza had been under investigation for two allegations reported to authorities and the Diocese of Rockford in 2014. Immediately after the first allegation was reported, Pedraza was asked to remove himself from all priestly ministry and from all Hispanic Ministry duties in the DeKalb County Deanery to which he was assigned at the time of the first allegation. He has been out of the ministry since Oct. 30, 2014, the release said.

Pedraza came to the Rockford Diocese in 2013 from the country of Colombia. During his time with the Rockford Diocese, he worked in Hispanic Ministry in the DeKalb Deanery and assisted at Sacred Heart Parish in Aurora and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Aurora.

The Diocese of Rockford asks that if you are a victim or know of someone who might be a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the diocesan clergy, church employee or volunteer to call police and then the diocesan hotline at 815-293-7540.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com