The charges against a Catholic priest suspected of operating an Internet child pornography ring have been dropped due to lack of evidence.

The Rev. Rafael Muñiz Lopez of St. Peter Apostle Church in Xalapa, Mexico was released from a Mexico City jail and all charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence that the priest engaged in organized crime.

Muñiz, along with his brother and five other suspects, were arrested last April after an investigation turned up an email containing several images of sex acts involving minors. In the email was a link to a web page that, according to the prosecution, contained “scenes of explicit sex between adults and girls and boys from 0 to 10 years old.”

The police were able to track the link to Luis Alejandro Vergara. After searching his Mexico City home, investigators found large quantities of child pornography. Information on his computer led to the arrest of the six other suspects, including Rev. Muñiz.

The Rev. Muñiz and his brother are the only two suspects to have been released. Vergara confessed to rape and sexual assault, and the other four men remain in police custody.

Accused of Child Pornography in Los Angeles or South Bay?

If you have been accused or arrested for child pornography it is absolutely crucial that you speak with an attorney at Okabe & Haushalter right away. As you can imagine child pornography charges can lead to numerous penalties, including large fines, restitution to the victims, probation, incarceration in state prison, and lifetime registration as a sex offender once you’re released from prison. In addition, with a child pornography conviction also comes a stigma that can be incredibly damaging to your reputation and future. When faced with these charges, nothing is more important than hiring a skilled Los Angeles child pornography defense attorney. At Okabe & Haushalter, we have considerable experience in this area of criminal law, and would be happy to meet with you to discuss your charges and determine what defense strategies can be used to help you achieve the best possible case result.

To learn more, please contact Okabe & Haushalter today at (310) 543-7708!