LONG BEACH (CA)
Contra Costa Times
By Tracy Manzer, Staff Writer
presstelegram.com
August 7, 2012
LONG BEACH — A Catholic priest once assigned to a North Long Beach church who now faces sexual assault charges appeared briefly in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing setting.
The Rev. Luis Jose Cuevas, the former parish priest at St. Athanasius Catholic Church, 5390 Linden Ave., is no longer in custody after his release on $260,000 bond on July 27.
The 67-year-old is scheduled to return to the Long Beach Superior Court on Sept. 11, when a preliminary hearing is scheduled to be set, according to court staff.
Cuevas has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of sexual assault following accusations from three alleged victims. His attorney, George Bird, has repeatedly denied the allegations against his client, noting the massive community support for the defendant, demonstrated by nearly 100 members of the church where he once served attending his arraignment.
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