Latest sex abuse lawsuit details abuse during retreat at Cocos Island

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
March 21, 2017

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/local/13112

Guam - In the latest sex abuse lawsuit filed against the church, a former confirmation class student says defrocked priest Raymond Cepeda sexually assaulted him during a weekend retreat at Cocos Island as a form of punishment.

The complaint, filed by 45-year-old James Mafnas, states that when Mafnas was 15 years old and a student of confirmation classes at the Barrigada parish, students were required to go on a retreat to Cocos Island as a requirement for confirmation class.

Mafnas says students were told not to bring food with them and that they were required to purchase food from a resort at Cocos Island. But Mafnas said his family couldn't afford to purchase food at Cocos Island so Mafnas secretly packed some food with him to the retreat. When he got caught, Mafnas says he was sent to Cepeda's bungalow. At the time, Cepeda was the parish priest of the Barrigada church.

Mafnas was ordered to get on his knees and recite the rosary 20 times. Cepeda then ordered Mafnas to stay in his bungalow so that he could "keep an eye on him." Mafnas fell asleep but when he woke up, Cepeda was sexually abusing, the report states.

Mafnas says he eventually received his confirmation but avoided Cepeda as well as going to church. Like many of the others, Mafnas is also suing for $5 million in damages. He’s now the 31^st victim to file suit against the Archdiocese of Agana.

You can read Mafnas' lawsuit by clicking on the file below.