Father Jose Luis Cuevas
Ordained: 1974
Arrested: 2012
Assignment History:
- 1974-1997: Unknown
- 1998-2003: Casa Comboni Seminary (Azusa, CA)
- 2000-2003: Comboni Missionary (Cincinnati, OH)
- 2003: Holy Cross Church (Los Angeles, CA)
- 2004-2009: Casa Comboni Seminary (Azusa, CA)
- 2006-2012: St. Athanasius (Long Beach, CA)
- 2013: Administrative leave
- 2014-Present: Unknown
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Jose Luis Cuevas:
Fr. Luis Jose Cuevas was ordained a priest in 1974, and served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Los Angeles. According to media reports, he has been accused by at least three people of sexual abuse; at least one accuser was a minor when the sexual abuse occurred.
In April 2012, the Long Beach Police Department received information from two female adults who reported being the victims of sexual abuse by Fr. Cuevas at St. Athanasius. Both women initially reported the incidents to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and then filed the police report. During the investigation, a third victim came forward. This victim, a 17-year-old female, reported repeated incidents of inappropriate touching by Fr. Cuevas that occurred from 2008-2010.
After the allegations surfaced, Fr. Cuevas fled to Mexico where he was arrested in 2012 and then extradited to Los Angeles. It is believed that after the arrest, Fr. Cuevas was removed from all ministerial duties and forced to live privately. Fr. Cuevas pleaded no contest to the sexual assault charges, including lewd acts involving a child. He was sentenced to five years of probation, 40 hours of community service, one year of sex offender counseling, and he also had to register as a sex offender.
Fr. Cuevas is listed on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles' 2018 List of Archdiocesan Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. In 2018, he was ordered by the Vatican to a life of prayer and penance.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in California. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in one of California's Catholic dioceses, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles now have legal options due to a voluntary compensation fund created by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in California and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.