Exclusive: Priest, 87, Arrested For Sexual Abusing Underage Girl

**Tangaxuan** · August 04, 2011, 10:48 AM

By MARIO DIAZ Staff reporter 10:06 p.m. EDT, August 3, 2011

EASTCHESTER, NY (PIX11)—
PIX 11 News has exclusively learned that Father Jaime Duenas, an 87-year-old Catholic priest in the Bronx, has been arrested for sexually abusing a 16-year-old victim over the course of three days in the past week.

The victim according to sources had just started working in the rectory at The Church of Our Blessed Lady on East 233rd St. in Eastchester.

In addition, to the charge of sexual abuse, the priest is facing additional charges of with forcible touching and endangering a child.

"Father James" as he is known by his followers was arrested in his standard uniform, a white collar around his neck, in the church rectory without incident.

Neighbors and those who attended the church and school the told PIX 11 they were "shocked" and "couldn't believe" that the man so trusted in the community had been arrested for sexual abuse of a 16-year-old.

At the bodega right beside the home of Father Duenas, the shop owner Valentin said in Spanish, "He is supposed to be a man to trust. If we can't trust him, how can we trust his faith? This make you question faith."

The Archdiocese of New York finally got back to PIX 11 numerous inquiries regarding the arrest, "They said they are reviewing Father James' files, but he had no problems in the past."

The thing that's getting me is that I know this man. He was our local neighborhood priest. I've known this man since I came to where I live more than ten years ago. He was a friendly person. He never did anything like that to me, the classmates or the members of the choir. I just hope that this allegation isn't true because I don't want to think Father James is a man who could such a horrible thing. I just don't know.

http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-bronx-...0,592302.story

**Sphere** · August 04, 2011, 10:59 AM

At least the investigation is in the hands of the NYPD and not some RCC committee. The former is much more likely to seek justice than the latter.

**Mortality** · August 04, 2011, 11:10 AM

I expected Catholic.

I hope the Vatican doesn't tamper with the trials like they did with the Irish incidents.

**saglam2000** · August 04, 2011, 11:15 AM

With a girl? Man he fails as a priest

**Ancient Aliens** · August 04, 2011, 11:35 AM

At the OP: everyone is human, priests included. We all do things we regret, and none of us are infallible.

**Vanoi** · August 04, 2011, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Ancient Aliens

At the OP: everyone is human, priests included. We all do things we regret, and none of us are infallible.

It doesn't however exuse him for what he has done.

**Tangaxuan** · August 04, 2011, 12:54 PM

Just found out that Father James got released without bond

Bronx priest, 87, arrested for sexually abusing 16-year-old girl who worked in church rectory

BY Kerry Wills, Kevin Deutsch and Joe Kemp
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Thursday, August 4th 2011, 4:00 AM

Vic Nicastro for News
Father Jaime Duenas leaves Bronx criminal court on Wednesday.

Take our Poll

Priests and sexual abuse

Do incidents like this make you trust officials at your church less?
Yes, they make me second-guess people I know. No, I trust the people who work at my own church. I'm not sure.

Related News

An 87-year-old Bronx priest was arrested Wednesday for sexually abusing a teenage girl who just started working in his church, prosecutors charge.
Father Jaime Duenas was collared inside the rectory of the Church of the Blessed Lady on E. 233rd St. near Secor Ave. in Eastchester in the afternoon, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
The 16-year-old victim started working last week in the same church rectory, where Duenas sexually abused her, sources said.
"She didn't protest to getting a massage," Duenas said in his cell before his arraignment last night, according to prosecutors. "She was wearing short skirts."
Duenas was arraigned last night on charges of sexual abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child.
He was released without bond. The judge ordered the priest to stay away from the victim.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_c...#ixzz1U5GW2Ryx

**Ancient Aliens** · August 04, 2011, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Azoth

It doesn't however exuse him for what he has done.

Should this mean that the OP should, for some reason, question his faith because his priest slept with a 16 year old girl? No. If he is to question his faith, his questioning should have some logical backing.

Or should the OP discard his positive memories of this man because he slept with a 16 year old? No.

That was the point I was trying to make. You are right, the man should go to jail for his crimes.

**Vanoi** · August 04, 2011, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Ancient Aliens

Should this mean that the OP should, for some reason, question his faith because his priest slept with a 16 year old girl? No. If he is to question his faith, his questioning should have some logical backing.

Or should the OP discard his positive memories of this man because he slept with a 16 year old? No.

That was the point I was trying to make. You are right, the man should go to jail for his crimes.

Oh sorry i didn't know you were referring to that. I also agree the OP shouldn't question hsi faith just because of this event.

**Charrua** · August 04, 2011, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by saglam2000

With a girl? Man he fails as a priest

Yeah, after all, it wasn't the choir boy ¬¬ ...

**(s)AINT** · August 04, 2011, 12:25 PM

I wish more sex abuse scandals were handled by the police and not the vatican or some committee.

A good day for Law and Justice.

**Denny Crane!** · August 04, 2011, 12:49 PM

Is this an exclusive for TWC? I doubt it, odd title.

**Tangaxuan** · August 04, 2011, 01:03 PM

The thing is that me and a lot of the people who live in the neighborhood find this to be skeptical, at the very least. He has a clean record so far. He just doesn't look the type to be molesting a sixteen year old girl.

He's innocent until he's proven guilty.

And he didn't sleep with her. It was a massage apparently but there's not much detail.

**chriscase** · August 04, 2011, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Tangaxuan

The thing that's getting me is that I know this man. He was our local neighborhood priest. I've known this man since I came to where I live more than ten years ago. He was a friendly person. He never did anything like that to me, the classmates or the members of the choir.

Just guessing here, but unless you are a 16 year old girl in a short skirt I doubt you are his type. This story is mildly redeeming in the sense that at least this priest has something approaching a comprehensible sexual orientation. Although the bigger question of abuse of power still stands.

**~~removeduser_4536284751384~~** · August 04, 2011, 04:01 PM

What exactly happened?

A 16 year old girl is hardly a naive child. Was it forced?

**chriscase** · August 04, 2011, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by irelandeb

What exactly happened?

A 16 year old girl is hardly a naive child. Was it forced?

Apparently he massaged her shoulders and generally creeped her out. According to one of the articles (which I'm hardly accepting as authoritative, but you have to work with what you're given), his defense for the shoulder rub was that she was wearing a short skirt. I'm guessing he's not a chiropractor in his spare time. So apparently he thought her short skirt was an invitation.

**~~removeduser_4536284751384~~** · August 04, 2011, 04:47 PM

But how did he do it "over the course of three days"?

**chriscase** · August 04, 2011, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by irelandeb

But how did he do it "over the course of three days"?

Hmm, not sure about that. Maybe some of the other links explain it. Sound like a really long backrub. That guy's hands must be tired.

**Mortality** · August 04, 2011, 06:04 PM

Something tells me this really doesn't add up.

"Over Three Days"

Why didn't anyone report this? Where? When?

**Gaidin** · August 06, 2011, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by The Rifleman

Something tells me this really doesn't add up.

"Over Three Days"

Why didn't anyone report this? Where? When?

You do realize how inane those questions look when the guy got arrested for it right?

Considering abuse streaks have been known to last for years without being reported, 3 days is a damn fine showing so don't try to ask this question.