SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A Dominican judge on Thursday found enough evidence to hold a Catholic priest in jail for one year after police detained him in the killing of a 16-year-old who once served as an altar boy in his church.

Prosecutors said the victim, Fernelis Carrion, was hit twice in the back of the head with a hammer, suffocated with a plastic bag and stabbed nearly a week ago. They also said his hands and feet were tied with shoelaces and that he was gagged.

Police arrested 41-year-old Rev. Elvis Taveras after the teen’s body was found near a road north of the capital Monday.

“A person who does something like this is not human, they never were, they’re the devil!” yelled the victim’s father, Freddy Carrion, after the court hearing ended.

Local law allows Dominican authorities to temporarily hold suspects in jail before a trial as authorities continue to investigate a case.

Defence attorney Miguel Liria declined to comment on police and court documents that state Taveras allegedly told authorities he sexually abused the boy for three years and killed him because he was being blackmailed with pictures and videos and more demands for money after paying the boy more than $4,000.

Prosecutor Olga Llaverias said those statements cannot be used as evidence because they were not part of an interrogation and no defence attorney was present. She said Taveras has not spoken since his arrest.

The Archdiocese of Santo Domingo earlier said it had suspended Taveras from his duties as a precaution.