The Public Department has stated that it believes a sexual abuse of a minor occurred before the age of 13, and as a result, they are seeking a tougher sentence. A prison term of seven years and nine months has already been handed down, with the possibility of an increased penalty up to ten or twelve years depending on subsequent rulings.
The County Court in Murcia, however, held that the evidence did not prove that the abuse happened before the minor’s thirteenth birthday. Nevertheless, prosecutors argue that the case has already been tested in court. The defendant stands apart from the Office of the Prosecutor, led by José Luis Díaz Manzanera, who has consistently emphasized the need to combat abuse within the church. The appeal has been lodged with the High Court of Justice of Murcia (TSJ).
The 5th Division of the Murcia County Court, based in Cartagena, convicted the priest as the author of a crime involving ongoing sexual abuse of a minor, sentencing him to seven years and nine months in prison. A ban on approaching and communicating with the victim was also imposed for five years beyond the prison term, according to judicial sources.
The judges described the minor’s statement as persistent, noting that it showed no internal contradictions and that there was no significant inconsistency to undermine its credibility. They also considered the time that had elapsed since the events, about three to four years, in assessing the credibility of the testimony and the initial account. The court found the narrative to be detailed and continuous, expressing full credibility.
In the summer, the bishop, José Manuel Lorca Planes, filed the original complaint with the District Attorney of Murcia alleging sexual abuse of a minor by the priest Antonio L. Z. He served as parish priest at San Juan Bautista de Yecla and as chaplain at Virgen del Castillo Hospital. A press release from the Diocese of Cartagena indicated that Lorca Planes later dismissed the priest based on a policy of zero tolerance for such behavior, a stance also echoed by the Holy See under Pope Francis.
As reported in February by La Opinión de Murcia, the newspaper within the same media group, the priest faced two additional complaints of sexual abuse and one complaint of sexual assault from other victims who described being touched by the religious figure. In the first set, prosecutors sought sentences of five years in one case and four and six years in the other, reflecting alleged abuse of two minors with whom a relationship existed. Regarding the sexual assault charges, including attempted penetration, the Prosecutor’s Office requested a 12-year term.
Born in Monteagudo, Murcia, Father Antonio moved through several parishes, including San Pedro del Pinatar, before his 2013 removal from the Parochial Vicar position at San Pedro Apóstol’s parishes in San Pedro del Pinatar. He later served as parish priest in his hometown, San Juan Bautista de Yecla, following the events that led to the complaint filed by Lorca Planes. The broader context of these actions reflects ongoing concerns within the church about safeguarding and accountability, as discussed in church communications and public statements surrounding the case. The sequence of events sheds light on the evolving response of diocesan leadership and authorities to allegations of abuse and the legal processes that ensue.” (Source: La Opinión de Murcia)