Former Fresno Anglican priest's sentencing for sex crimes delayed

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A erstwhile Fresno clergyman is inactive awaiting sentencing aft agreeing to a plea woody years aft helium was accused successful a bid of enactment crimes.

Jesus Serna was remanded to the California Department of Corrections for diagnostic valuation to find his punishment.

Quiet cries and sniffles could beryllium heard successful the courtroom arsenic the erstwhile Anglican Priest appeared again successful the lawsuit that has spanned years.

Serna, known to his followers arsenic Father Antonio, served from 2007 to 2017 astatine Our Lady Guadalupe Church successful Fresno.

He was arrested successful aboriginal 2019 pursuing a much than year-long probe including intersexual misconduct involving astatine slightest 3 big parishioners.

In February, the 56-year-old pleaded nary contention to 9 counts of intersexual battle and 1 number of attempting to forestall a witnesser from testifying.

12 different counts were dropped.

Friday, 1 of his victims stood up successful tribunal to stock the ways the crimes person changed his beingness Action News was not allowed to amusement his face.

"Everything changes successful my full beingness and I'm inactive going done that."

A bishop from the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin besides work a connection struggling done tears arsenic helium spoke straight to Serna.

"You've manipulated guiltless and susceptible men and women, worse acting arsenic a clergyman it was made to look by you arsenic if God himself were harming them, manipulating them, and leaving them isolated and alone," said Eric Menees, Bishop Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin.

Serna was fixed the accidental to respond to their statements.

"Again I inquire from each the victims for forgiveness and besides from you, the bishop," said Serna.

He besides made his ain pleas to the justice saying helium had taken work for what helium has done.

"Also please, person compassion and mercy connected me," said Serna. "This has changed my beingness and I cognize I volition ne'er bash thing similar this again."

The justice felt otherwise astir Serna's claims of remorse passim the trial.

"This tribunal felt that Mr. Serna did not afloat judge work for his actions, did not recognize the gravity of his conduct, and did not admit the harm helium caused successful the community," said Hon. Charles Lee, Fresno County Superior Court.

Serna has been remanded with nary bail and volition instrumentality for sentencing successful astir 90 days astatine that constituent the justice volition find if helium volition beryllium sentenced to probation oregon prison.

If sentenced to situation helium could look up to 14 years.

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