ARGENTINA

Priest jailed for 15 years

06-12-2009 | AP

Panama Star BUENOS AIRES. A Roman Catholic priest who won fame running an Argentine foundation for poor youths was convicted Wednesday of sexually molesting a boy who participated in the program. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

A three-judge panel found Father Julio Grassi guilty of one count of sexual abuse and one count of corrupting a minor.

He was acquitted of 15 other charges alleging abuse of two other boys at his "Happy the Children" Foundation. All the alleged crimes occurred in 1996.

Grassi, 52, continued to proclaim his innocence, saying he was "the victim of an injustice."

Outside the court, protesters demanding Grassi's imprisonment scuffled with the priest's supporters.

Grassi became widely known in Argentina after starting the "Happy the Children" Foundation in 1993, opening homes for poor children and doing other charitable work.