Downey priest accused of sexual misconduct involving a minor, removed from role at church

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A Downey priest is facing criminal charges of assault and lewd acts involving a minor, and one organization believes he may have victimized others.

A TV station obtained video from June 1, 2024, when Jaime Arriaga was ordained as a priest. Now, he faces a new reality after he was arrested and charged with assault and lewd acts on a child.

Arriaga pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment on Monday and is being held without bail.

The 41-year-old was a deacon first and then a priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Downey since January 2024.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said they received the report on Arrianga on April 2. He was arrested the following day. The Archdiocese said he has been removed from the ministry.

The Archdiocese issued a statement saying, in part, “Allegations of misconduct against anyone serving in the Archdiocese are reported to law enforcement, fully investigated and, under the Zero-Tolerance Policy, anyone who is found to have harmed a minor is permanently removed from any capacity in the Archdiocese.”

Melanie Sakoda with Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), has worked with survivors for more than 20 years and says a better vetting process in the church is needed.

“There really isn’t a way for them to guarantee that people who abuse children aren’t going to be entering the priesthood,” Sakoda said. “And it’s not their fault, there just isn’t a way to detect these people.”

Investigators are asking any additional possible victims to come forward.

“Now, people have an opportunity, if there’s other victims out there, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are, they have an opportunity to come forward, too, and if this man is an abuser of children, let’s put him behind bars,” Sakoda said.
Arriaga is due back in court in June.