YUMA (AZ)
KMSB News
04/16/2003
A Catholic priest from Yuma pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted child molestation and is facing at least five years in prison.
The Rev. Juan Guillen, a former associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Yuma, pleaded guilty in Yuma County Superior Court to two counts of attempted child molestation in connection with allegations that he abused altar boys. Guillen is the third priest who has worked in the Catholic Diocese of Tucson to be convicted on sexual misconduct charges since March 28, bringing bad news to the diocese as it prepares for Easter this Sunday.
Guillen, 59, is in the Yuma County Jail and is expected to be sentenced May 8, said Roger Nelson, chief criminal deputy for the Yuma County Attorney’s Office. Nelson refused further comment on the case, which was pleaded down to significantly fewer charges from what Guillen had been facing.
