A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Andres Andino, age 59, on charges of rape and other sex-related crimes involving a minor. The indictment, announced on February 25, includes one count of rape—an F1 felony—two counts of sexual battery (F3), and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. According to Cleveland19, Andino was taken into custody on March 16th, with the alleged incidents dating between February 2013 and February 2018.
The accused, known as Andy, served as the worship director for Saint John Bosco Catholic Church in Parma Heights and worked part-time at Saint Joseph Parish in Avon Lake. Following the indictment, Andino has been placed on unpaid administrative leave from both parishes, as reported by FOX8 News. Andino appears to allegedly have been in a position of authority over the victim at the time of the offenses.
Upon his arrest, Andino pleaded not guilty to the charges during his appearance in Common Pleas Court. Cleveland.com report that he posted a $50,000 bond on Thursday and is expected to return to court quickly the following Wednesday. Documentation from the court emphasizes the years-spanning nature of the allegations against him.
"The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, St. John Bosco Parish and the St. Joseph Parish leadership were shocked and dismayed to learn of the arrest of Andres Andino on serious, troubling charges," the Diocese expressed in a statement obtained by Cleveland.com . Since then, the diocese has suspended Andino from serving at the churches. "We pray that the legal process reveals the truth, and justice is served," the Diocese added.
