Sentencing set for Dec. 9 for priest who served at Oxnard parish

A Catholic priest who served in Oxnard pleaded no contest Thursday to one count of possessing child pornography, prosecutors said.

Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara, 39, pleaded guilty in Ventura County Superior Court and Judge Derek Malan found him guilty, prosecutor Howard Wise said.

The defendant admitted to four specific allegations, including possessing more than 600 images of child pornography, according to a press release from the District Attorney’s Office. Included are images and videos of prepubescent minors under the age of 12, the press release states.

He also admitted special allegations that the crime involved a large amount of contraband, the victim was vulnerable and the manner in which the crime was committed revealed planning, sophistication or professionalism. Admission to special allegations may increase the defendant’s sentence.

Martinez-Guevara initially pleaded not guilty to his sole felony charge and denied the special allegations in October 2023.

A member of the Catholic religious order called the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, Martinez-Guevara was associated with several churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Oxnard, the prosecutor’s office said. He served in Oxnard Parish from July 2021 to September 2022, church officials said a year ago after his arrest.

He was charged in Ventura County based on the five-month period he lived in the area, from Jan. 28 to June 30, 2022, Wise said.

He served in the local parish as a deacon and newly ordained priest, Los Angeles Archdiocese officials said at the time of his arrest. He was removed from his position by the archdiocese and at its direction, officials said at the time.

He faces a maximum of five years in state prison or a minimum of probation and no prison time, Wise said. Sentencing is scheduled for December 9.

Martinez-Guevara became the subject of an investigation after dozens of reports were made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to the prosecutor’s press release. In April 2023, the Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force began another investigation, which led to the discovery that he was in direct possession of more than 600 images and videos , says the press release.

Kathleen Wilson covers justice, mental health and local government issues for the Ventura County Star. Contact her at [email protected].

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