Photo: Courtesy Westlake Police
(Westlake) - A Columbian national who claimed to be a retired priest, is now behind bars following his arrest by the Westlake Police Department for inappropriately touching a 15-year-old Westlake girl who is battling cancer. Westlake Police Captain Jerry Vogel says 76-year-old Luis Jesus Barajas was brought to the girl's home at her family's request to provide a blessing. However, witnesses to the blessing say that it appeared Barajas used blankets and clothing to try cover up what he was doing with his hands.
Vogel says Barajas was staying with friends in Elyria, which is where he was arrested. He says it appears that Barajas was a priest at one time in the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, but he was removed from the priesthood following accusations of sexual misconduct involving children and sent back to Columbia.
The case has been bound over to a grand jury and Barajas' bond set at $500,000. Vogel says it's unclear if there are any other victims here locally but urges anyone who suspects that something inappropriate may have happened, to contact Westlake Police at 440-871-3311.
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