By Redacción
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Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara, a priest who served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, pleaded no contest to a felony charge of possession of child sexual abuse material, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today.
The plea includes his admission to possessing over 600 images, many of which depicted prepubescent minors under the age of 12.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko confirmed the development, stating that Martinez-Guevara, 39, was associated with several churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard, during the time of his crimes. “The defendant betrayed not only the law but the trust placed in him as a religious leader,” Nasarenko said. “Child sexual abuse material preys on the most vulnerable in our society, and we will hold anyone accountable for such heinous crimes, regardless of their position or title.”
Martinez-Guevara, a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, became the subject of an investigation following numerous reports made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This led the Ventura County Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force (VC-CEHTTF) to launch a formal investigation in April 2023. Investigators uncovered evidence that Martinez-Guevara had direct possession of over 600 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. He was subsequently arrested on September 13, 2023.
The VC-CEHTTF, composed of members from various local, state, and federal agencies, including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and U.S. Attorney’s Office, played a pivotal role in the investigation. The task force focuses on identifying, rescuing, and protecting children from exploitation through collaborative efforts.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise, who leads the case for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit, expressed gratitude for the cooperation of Martinez-Guevara’s religious order. “I am thankful for the cooperation of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit and hopeful that today’s plea will begin the healing process for the victims,” Wise said. “Martinez-Guevara’s acceptance of guilt is an important first step toward accountability.”
As part of the plea, Martinez-Guevara also admitted to special allegations that highlighted the scale of his crime, including the significant number of images and the graphic nature of the materials found in his possession. According to authorities, the materials included images and videos involving prepubescent minors, some younger than 12 years old.
Martinez-Guevara’s sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2024, in Ventura County Superior Court. If convicted, he faces significant prison time under California state law, which imposes severe penalties for crimes involving child sexual abuse material. He remains in custody pending the outcome of the sentencing hearing.
The Ventura County Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force, which led the investigation, includes representatives from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Simi Valley Police Department, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The multi-agency task force is dedicated to the prevention and prosecution of crimes involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children.
Martinez-Guevara’s case underscores the critical role played by organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which alerts law enforcement to potential child exploitation cases. According to reports, the organization received numerous tips related to Martinez-Guevara, prompting local authorities to intervene.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, particularly among parishioners of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard, where Martinez-Guevara had previously served. The Missionaries of the Holy Spirit have since distanced themselves from the priest, expressing deep sorrow for the harm caused by his actions. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” a statement from the order read.
As Martinez-Guevara awaits sentencing, the District Attorney’s Office continues to emphasize the importance of vigilance and reporting in combatting child exploitation.
“We encourage anyone with information about similar crimes to come forward,” Nasarenko said. “We are committed to ensuring justice for victims of child sexual exploitation, and we will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”
This case highlights the broader issue of child sexual abuse material and the efforts by law enforcement agencies to curb the spread of such content. According to a recent report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the number of reports related to child exploitation continues to rise, necessitating increased collaboration between law enforcement, technology companies, and nonprofit organizations.
As the community grapples with the fallout from the case, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to holding offenders like Martinez-Guevara accountable. His sentencing on December 9, 2024, will mark the conclusion of one of the most significant cases of child exploitation in Ventura County in recent years.
