Catholic Priest Pleads Not Guilty To Child Pornography Charge

Tuesday October 03, 2023

(Photo courtesy VCSO))

     Update--A Catholic priest has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge brought by Ventura County prosecutors of being in possession of a large amount of child pornography.

     The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed that charge last month against 38-year-old Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara who is a member of the Archdioceses of Los Angeles and who is associated with several churches including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard.

     Prosecutors allege a special allegation that he possessed over 600 images of child sexual abuse material including images and videos of minors under the age of 12, mostly young boys, an allegation that he denied in court.

     Martinez-Guevara became the focus of an investigation earlier this year after several reports were made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

     He remains in the Ventura County Jail and for now is being held without bail.

     Martinez-Guevara is due back in court on October 13th regarding an evidence motion.