FRESNO (CA)
Fresno Bee

Oct. 23, 2019

By Robert Rodriguez

After nine days of testimony from 15 witnesses, Judge Jane Cardoza ruled Wednesday there is enough evidence to send former Anglican priest Jesus Antonio Castaneda Serna to trial for allegedly sexually assaulting nearly a dozen of his adult parishioners.

Serna is charged with 22 felony and misdemeanor counts, including sexual battery, battery, attempted sexual battery and attempting to prevent a witness from testifying. With the exception of one woman, all of the alleged victims are men.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could face 23 years and six months in prison.

Serna’s attorney Ralph Torres said he will prove to a jury Serna’s accusers may have had other motives for seeing him removed from his position in the church.