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  An Arrest Warrant Was Issued for a Catholic Priest Accused of Sexually Molesting a Minor after He Failed to Show up at His Arraignment Wednesday

United Press International [Boise, Oregon]
May 30, 1984

Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jim Carlson said the warrant was issued after the Rev. Mel Baltazar failed to appear at his scheduled 2:30 p.m. arraignment at 4th District Magistrate Court at Boise.

"A defendant can either voluntarily show up for an arraignment, or he'll be arrested. It's his choice," Carlson said.

Baltazar, 49, is accused of committing sexual acts with a 15-year-old on two occasions last winter. He also is charged with performing a sex act with another person of undisclosed age on April 26.

An Ada County deputy prosecutor said complaints alleging lewd and lascivious conduct and an infamous crime against nature were filed against Baltazar before he resigned his job as chaplain at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

Carlson declined to elaborate on the case.

"We'll proceed as usual," Carlson said, "I've handled 50 or 60 of these.

There's no difference save a title in front of a man's name."

An Ada County court clerk said Baltazar was out-of-town, possibly in the eastern part of the country.

 
 

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