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  Delay by Bishop to Report Priest for Abuse Gives Him Time to Flee to Mexico

KLFY [California]
June 23, 2006

http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=5069234

San Francisco A California law enforcement official says the failure of a Roman Catholic bishop to immediately report a priest who admitted to sexually abusing a 12-year-old altar boy gave the priest time to flee to Mexico.

The Reverend Xavier Ochoa (ZAY'-vee-ur OH'-choh-ah) confessed the sexual abuse to Bishop Daniel Walsh, the head of the Santa Rosa Diocese, on April 28th.

Walsh immediately suspended Ochoa, but didn't tell local authorities until three days later.

The diocese's lawyer has told The Press Democrat newspaper that Walsh told him about Ochoa on April, 29th, a Saturday. The lawyer says he waited until Monday to notify the office of Child Protective Services because he thought it was closed over the weekend.

Ochoa faces misdemeanor and felony charges in the case involving the altar boy and another concerning two teenaged boys who say he molested them more than ten years ago.

 
 

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