Catholic Bishop Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Selling Drugs
RIVERSIDE -A 51-year-old Catholic bishop pleaded not guilty today to felony charges stemming from the alleged sale of drugs out of his Home Gardens church.
Bail was set at $250,000 for Bishop Anthony Martinez Garduno, who also made headlines in September, when he was shot outside Our Lady of Tepeyac during a robbery attempt.
He was charged today with one felony and misdemeanor count each of possession of a controlled substance for sale, two felony counts of possession of controlled substances and one felony count of possession of stolen property.
But no charges linked to sex abuse allegations involving ateenage boy were filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
Garduno’s arrest Tuesday stemmed from an investigation launched Dec. 21 on claims that the bishop assaulted a 17-year-old boy, according to sheriff’s Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela.
The alleged victim also reported having knowledge of additional sexual assaults by Garduno against underage boys and selling of drugs in the church, Valenzuela said Wednesday.
Investigators served a search warrant at the church, at 13462 Magnolia Ave., and allegedly found evidence linking the bishop to drug sales and possible sexual assaults, Valenzuela said.
In September, Garduno was shot outside his church when he interrupted a robbery. He surprised five suspects, one of whom opened fire, according to sheriff’s officials.
The five had allegedly been on a 10-hour robbery spree targeting Denny’s and IHOP restaurants in Los Angeles and Riverside counties, according to sheriff’s investigators.
Willis Webb Bagley, 38, of Perris, Jacob Zachary Buschow, 19, of Pomona, Anthony Brian Coleman, 21, of Chino, Timothy William Jacquemain, 18, of Pomona, and Andrew Blake Swindle, 23, of Pomona, are all being prosecuted on attempted murder and robbery charges.
Their trial is set for Monday.
Garduno was ordered back to court Monday for a felony settlement conference. A preliminary hearing was tentatively set for Jan. 14.
