Former Danbury Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse Pleads Not Guilty

By Kendra Baker
News Times
February 24, 2020

https://www.newstimes.com/policereports/article/Former-Danbury-priest-accused-of-sexual-abuse-15079333.php

Jaime Marin-Cardona

DANBURY — Not guilty pleas have been entered in the case against the former priest accused of sexually assaulting one boy and groping another.

Jaime Marin-Cardona, 51, is charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, three counts of risk of injury to child and three counts of illegal sexual contact.

Marin-Cardona turned him in to Danbury police on a warrant Jan. 3.

The warrant alleges that he groomed two boys over the course of four years, and sexually abused one of them over the same period of time.

The alleged abuse began in 2014 — the same year Marin-Cardona became a priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Golden Hill Road.

He was placed on administrative leave Dec. 11, after the Diocese of Bridgeport’s Sexual Misconduct Review Board learned that the state Department of Children and Families had substantiated allegations of abuse against him.

The Columbia native’s most recent service was at Saint Mary Parish in Bridgeport, according to Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of the Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport.

Marin-Cardona was released on $500,000 bond, with conditions, earlier this month. The conditions of his release include wearing a tracking device and comply with protective orders.

His next date at state Superior Court in Danbury is March 13.