Priest Convicted of Sex Crime in San Diego Resurfaces in Oklahoma

By Abbie Alford
CBS 8
April 22, 2016

http://www.cbs8.com/story/31798050/priest-convicted-of-sex-crime-in-san-diego-resurfaces-in-oklahoma

A convicted San Diego priest who pleaded guilty to fondling a teenage girl in 2011 is now serving in parishes in Oklahoma City.

Father Jose Alexis DaVila admitted to abusing a 19-year-old woman and now he is involved with three churches. It's a move that is being called both stunning and hurtful.

Blessed Sacrament's website in Lawton Oklahoma says as of March 29, Father Jose Alexis DaVila left to serve the following parishes in Oklahoma: Saint Ann Church, Elgin and Missions, Mother of Sorrows Church in Apache, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Sterling.

When the church welcomed DaVila in December, it made no mention the priest served in San Diego. DaVila was an associate pastor from Saint Jude's Shrine of the West in Southcrest.

David Clohessy, executive director for SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests - is outraged DaVila vanished and resurfaced on another pulpit in the Sooner State.

"I think it's inappropriate, I think it's insulting. We believe this priest shouldn't be a priest at all, this priest should be behind bars," said Clohessy.

CBS News 8 began following this story since DaVila's arrest in 2012. Four months later, Father DaVila was reinstated and serving at St. Jude's. At the time, the diocese released a statement saying that women and children were not at risk because of his return to the ministry.

Now, SNAP is calling on the Archbishops to be held accountable.

"It's crucial that those who commit sexual violence and those who conceal sexual violence are both disciplined because otherwise they will continue to do it and innocent vulnerable people will continue to be hurt," said Clohessy.

DaVila was sentenced to three years probation.

The Catholic Diocese did not respond to CBS News 8's request for comment.