By Veronica Gonzalez
Star News
January 9, 2010
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100108/ARTICLES/100109723?Title=Priest-facing-sexual-offense-charges-in-Brunswick-County
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| Edgar Sepulveda, 47-year-old Catholic priest who visited Brunswick County in May was arrested Friday and charged with second-degree sexual offense and sexual battery of a male juvenile. |
A 47-year-old Catholic priest from Duplin County who visited Brunswick County in May was arrested Friday and charged with second-degree sexual offense and sexual battery of a male juvenile, the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office announced.
Edgar Sepulveda of 208 Cavenaugh St., Beulaville, has been placed in the Brunswick County jail under a $100,000 secured bond, according to a news release sent by the sheriff's office.
The news release did not have any other details on the victim other than to say Sepulveda was visiting church members in the county when the offenses are alleged to have occurred.
The only Catholic churches in Brunswick County are St. Brendan the Navigator in Shallotte and Sacred Heart in Southport.
A news release sent out by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh on Sept. 26 announced that Sepulveda – pastor of Maria Reina Parish in Mt. Olive, Santa Teresa Mission in Beulaville and Santa Clara Mission in Magnolia – had been placed on administrative leave from the parishes. The action had been taken by the Diocese of Raleigh after an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor was made against Sepulveda on Sept. 9, according to the diocesan release. The churches where Sepulveda belonged are part of the Newton Grove deanery.
The diocese found out about the allegation when someone called the Diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection, the news release states. After the allegation was made against Sepulveda, the diocese reported it to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, and it was unknown late Friday what happened after it was reported to the conference. A Google Web site profile for Sepulveda states that he grew up in Colombia, and attended various colleges as well as the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, a private university, and the University of Pamplona, a public university in Colombia.
It also said that he'd lived in Mt. Olive, Kenansville and Beulaville, which coincides with the locations of parishes where he has served.
Veronica Gonzalez: 343-2008 or Veronica.Gonzalez@StarNewsOnline.com
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