Houston-area ex-priest indicted on child sex abuse charges

CONROE, Texas (AP) – A former Houston-area Roman Catholic priest has been indicted on child indecency charges arising from child sex abuse allegations.

A Montgomery County grand jury indicted Manuel La Rosa-Lopez on two of four counts that had led to his Sept. 1 arrest.

The charges arise from allegations made by a female parishioner about an April 9, 2000, incident while La Rosa-Lopez was a priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe.

The accuser, who is now an adult, alleged that La Rosa-Lopez was courting her for sex, brought her to his office after confession and kissed her, then groped her days later.

Three women have now accused La Rosa-Lopez of sexually touching them. The grand jury has yet to review the two other cases.

An attorney for La Rosa-Lopez didn’t immediately answer a message seeking comment.

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