AUGUSTA (BA)
Augusta Chronicle
August 1, 2019
By Jozsef Papp
No probable cause for criminal charges was found against a priest accused of exchanging explicit pictures with a juvenile in Aiken.
According to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation was started Tuesday after receiving information from the Aiken Department of Public Safety about a possible pornography case involving Father Raymond Flores, 33, of Saint Mary’s Help of Christians Church.
Investigators discovered Flores was having an online conversation with a juvenile on Grindr, an online adult dating application, during which they exchanged photos of their genitalia. An investigation revealed the juvenile indicated on Grindr he was 18 years old.
Flores, the juvenile and his family and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston fully cooperated in the investigation. According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation revealed there was no evidence that would have risen beyond the initial complaint and established probable cause for criminal charges.
The findings were presented to the 2nd Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. The juvenile’s family told investigators they did not want to pursue any further investigation.
Flores was placed on administrative leave without the ability to perform priestly duties for behavior inappropriate of a priest, according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.
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