Priest charged with fondling child
An American Roman Catholic priest accused of fondling a 7-year-old has been charged with criminal sexual conduct.
The Rev Luis Javier de Alba Campos, 49, pleaded not guilty yesterday through an interpreter to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
De Alba, a Mexican citizen, had been serving as pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Detroit since February.
Each count carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office said.
A magistrate set a personal bond of $40,000 dollars (€32,580) for Alba, with the condition that he not have any contact with St. Gabriel’s parishioners or any minors.
The Archdiocese of Detroit announced July 4 that it had removed de Alba from the parish and banned him from public ministry in the archdiocese after learning of the investigation against him.
“We’re saddened by it,” archdiocese spokesman Ned McGrath said. “We’ve co-operated fully with the authorities and would expect that the father does the same.”
A hearing in the case was scheduled for September 9.
