St. Charles - The priest accused of molesting a St. Charles boy now faces new charges that he also attempted to abuse the boy’s brother.
Prosecutors announced Wednesday that a grand jury handed down a 16-count indictment Tuesday against the Rev. Alejandro Flores, 37, including nine new counts since his January arrest.
The indictment includes counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Flores, who most recently served at Holy Family Parish in Shorewood, was first arrested in January after St. Charles police received reports that he assaulted the boy multiple times during a five year period. During the abuse, Flores served at St. Mary’s in West Chicago.
Prosecutors say Flores first assaulted the boy, whom he knew, in January 2005 when the boy was 8 years old, and continued until January of this year. The alleged incidents occurred in the boy’s home and in Flores’ car, according to prosecutors.
During the investigation, prosecutors learned Flores also attempted to abuse the boy’s older brother during the same time period.
Those allegations first became public in court when Flores’ attorney asked that bail be reduced and Flores be allowed to go to a clergy treatment center in Maryland. The bail modification requests were denied by Associate Judge Jordan Gallagher.
It was also revealed in that bail hearing that the Joliet Diocese has provided Flores with psychological counseling in the past for viewing pornography that depicted young men engaged in sexual acts.
That treatment was completed in March 2009.
Three months later, Flores was officially ordained as a priest.
Days after St. Charles police received the reports of abuse, Flores attempted to commit suicide by jumping off a choir balcony inside a Joliet church. Flores was arrested after his hospital stay.
Prosecutors say the case remains under investigation, and anyone with information can contact the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at 630-208-5160.
Flores remains in jail on $1 million bail, and is scheduled to appear in court April 30.
