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Bishop Milagrosa is the spiritual leader of Our Lady of La Salette Church in Bayside.
By Forum Staff
Bishop Jesé Milagrosa, the spiritual leader of Our Lady of La Salette Church in Bayside, Queens, has been charged with sexually assaulting a male member of his congregation over a 3-year period, beginning in 2011 when the victim was a pre-teen. “The defendant is accused of using his position as head of the church to take advantage of an innocent child for his own sexual gratification,” said Acting District Attorney Ryan said Bishop Milagrosa, 69, of Bayside, was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge Karina Alomar on a complaint charging him with predatory sexual assault against a child, first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, and first-, second- and third-degree criminal sexual act. Bishop Milagrosa was ordered held on $250,000 bail and to return to court on December 20, 2019. If convicted, the defendant faces 10 years to up to life in prison.
Acting District Attorney Ryan said that, according to the investigation, the victim became an active member of Our Lady of La Salette Church, a traditionalist church in Bayside, at a young age and allegedly spent much of his time, out of school, with the defendant. Beginning on or about May 12, 2011, according to the criminal complaint, Bishop Milagrosa engaged in sexual acts with the victim, who was only 12 at the time. This course of sexual conduct allegedly continued, on and off, until April 16, 2014.
According to the complaint, in a recorded conversation, the victim confronted the defendant on October 28, 2018, about engaging in sexual acts with him as a child. The defendant also allegedly made admissions to detectives at the time of arrest stating in Spanish in sum and substance that he had both oral and anal contact with the victim.
