CALIFORNIA
Press-Telegram
By Tracy Manzer Staff Writer presstelegram.com
Posted: 12/04/2012
LONG BEACH — A Catholic priest once assigned to a North Long Beach church pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges of sexual battery involving two women and a teen girl.
The Rev. Luis Jose Cuevas, the former parish priest at St. Athanasius Catholic Church, 5390 Linden Ave., was formally charged earlier this year with nine counts of sexual assault following accusations from three alleged victims.
Cuevas’ attorney, George Bird, repeatedly denied the allegations at his client’s arraignment in July, noting the massive community support for the 67-year-old priest demonstrated by nearly 100 members of the church who came to the courhouse that day.
“People who know Father Cuevas know what’s in his heart,” Bird said gesturing at the crowd of parishioners.
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