RAPID CITY (SD)
Rapid City Journal
November 16, 2018
By Arielle Zionts
A priest who previously served in the Diocese of Rapid City pleaded not guilty Friday to two counts of having sexual contact with a child under the age of 16.
John Praveen, 38, served in the diocese before he was charged Oct. 2 and accused of sexually touching a 13-year-old girl over her clothes, according to court records and statements.
Before calling court to order, Judge Robert Mandel of the Seventh Circuit called a translation company to connect with a Telugu speaker who had been booked for the arraignment.
Praveen, who is from India, was originally set to be arraigned Nov. 6, but the hearing was rescheduled after Mandel wasn’t able to reach a translator.
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