CALIFORNIA
Monterey Herald
By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY
Herald Salinas Bureau
montereyherald.com
A judge issued strict sanctions Friday against a fugitive priest in a lawsuit by his molestation victim.
Judge Lydia Villarreal ruled the Rev. Antonio Cortes will not be allowed to present evidence in his own defense, should he ever return to face the civil allegations.
Cortes, who pleaded no contest in March to more than a dozen charges involving the molestation of a 16-year-old parishioner, is believed to be in Mexico. He fled after being released from jail in December. A warrant was issued for his arrest for failing to report to his probation officer and register as a sex offender.
He could also face contempt-of-court charges.
Chris Lavorato, the victim’s attorney, said he was preparing a contempt motion against Cortes when he fled to Mexico. Lavorato, unable to serve that motion, went into court Friday to ask Villarreal to grant a default judgment against the priest or issue an “evidentiary sanction” prohibiting him from presenting defense evidence in the future.
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