Mug Shot Mania News

Aurora Priest charged with sexual abuse

February 12, 2016

An Aurora priest has been charged with sexually abusing two children.

Alfredo Pedraza Arias, 49 (d.o.b. 8-1-1966), recently of the 200 block of High Street, Aurora, is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, each a 
Class 2 felony.

Authorities allege that between January 2009 and November 2014, Pedraza Arias, a priest at Sacred Heart Church in Aurora, sexually abused two victims, who were both younger than 13 years old at the time. The abuse is alleged to have taken place at the home of one of the victims and at the church.

A warrant for Pedraza Arias’ arrest was issued Feb. 10, 2016, the charges were sealed by court order, and bail was set at $50,000 with 10 percent ($5,000) to apply for bond. Pedraza Arias was taken into custody Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, in Rockford, Ill., by the United States Marshal Service and Kane County Sheriff’s deputies.

Pedraza Arias appeared today in Kane County bond court in front of Associate Judge Elizabeth Flood, and the charges were unsealed. His next court appearance was set for 9 a.m. Feb. 18, 2016, in Courtroom 305 in front of Associate Judge Linda Abrahamson. If Pedraza Arias posts the $5,000 bond, he must surrender his passport, is prohibited from having contact with the victims and is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone younger than 18 years old.

If convicted, Pedraza Arias would face a sentence of probation or between three and 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. In addition, Pedraza Arias would have to register as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.

The case was investigated by the Kane County Child Advocacy Center, and remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information should call their local police department or the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at (630) 208-5160.

The charges against Pedraza Arias are not proof of guilt. He is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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