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Diocese releases statement on arrest of former youth group volunteer

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The Diocese of Lafayette says that the man facing child pornography and sexual abuse charges was a former volunteer for a group that met at a church in Ville Platte.

Isac Calderon-Sierra, 22, of Ville Platte was arrested Monday on child pornography and sexual abuse of an animal charges. He was taken into custody at the Rapides Parish Jail on a fugitive warrant.

According to the Attorney General's Office, an arrest warrant was obtained in Evangeline Parish for Calderon-Sierra on July 20 for violating five counts of LA. R.S. 14:81.1 (Possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles Under the Age of 13).

Calderon-Sierra was located that same day in Rapides Parish and booked at the Rapides Parish Correctional Center as a fugitive from Evangeline Parish on the outstanding warrant.

The next day, July 21, he was re-booked at the RPCC with additional charges for violating 300 counts of LA. R.S. 14:81.1 (Possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles Under the Age of 13) and five counts of LA. R.S. 14:89.3 (Sexual Abuse of Animals).

The Attorney General's Office says this arrest was a result of a joint investigation with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Unit, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Fugitive Apprehension Unit, Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Calderon-Sierra was a member of a youth group at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in Ville Platte. KATC found references to Calderon-Sierra on the church's Facebook page as recently as April.

On Thursday, the Diocese of Lafayette says that Calderon was a former volunteer for an inter-parochial youth group that met at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Church. During the time he was a volunteer, the diocese says they never received any complaints in connection with that group.

The Diocese says that Calderon-Sierra "never had any opportunity to be alone with any youth" during their gatherings.

If you have any information on the case, please contact the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-363-2161.

The Diocese statement is below:

"The Diocese of Lafayette has been made aware of the arrest of Isaac Calderon-Sierra on pornography charges. Calderon was a former volunteer for an inter-parochial youth group that met at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Church in Ville Platte. In keeping with our Safe Environment protocols, Mr. Calderon never had any opportunity to be alone with any youth during youth group gatherings, nor have we received any complaints in connection with the youth group. If you have any information on the case, please contact the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-363-2161. As this is an ongoing criminal investigation, the Diocese will have no further comment on the matter."

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