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Archdiocese apologizes for teen sex abuse

Posted at 5:51 AM, Apr 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-17 08:55:57-04

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has apologized for what it calls the "serious harm" done to a 15-year-old girl who was sexually abused by the athletic director at her Catholic high school.

The archdiocese released the statement Tuesday.

Under a settlement approved by a court last week, the archdiocese agreed to pay $8 million to settle a negligence lawsuit involving the girl, who is now 18.

The lawsuit said the archdiocese failed to take action against Juan Barajas despite repeated complaints that he had improper conduct with students at the all-girl San Gabriel Mission High School.

In 2016, he began a sexual relationship with the girl and took her to Las Vegas after his wife discovered the abuse. He was later arrested and sentenced to six years in prison for statutory sexual seduction.