Priest faces more sex charges

Los Angeles - A defrocked priest already facing child molestationcharges was accused Wednesday of sodomising a second boy who was aparishioner in the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese in the 1990s.

Michael Stephen Baker, 59, is accused of having sex with a boyfrom March 1996 to September 1998, beginning when the youth was 15,according to an amended felony complaint.

Prosecutors contend that during a discussion in the rectory,Baker gave the boy a ring with a red stone emblazoned with a cross "asa symbol of their special friendship", then pricked and joined theirbleeding fingers, telling the boy "that they were joined for life",according to a court document.

Boy given a cup of hot chocolate

A few minutes later, Baker fondled the boy, prosecutors contend.

Prosecutors also say Baker gave the boy a cup of hot chocolate and sodomised him after he fell asleep.

The boy, now in his 20s, did not come forward to make theaccusations, which were discovered during an investigation, said JaneRobison, a spokesperson for the district attorney's office. His namewas withheld.

Baker was scheduled to be charged on Thursday on the newcharges, which include one count of oral copulation of a person under18, one count of sexual penetration of an unconscious person with aforeign object and three counts of sodomy of a person under 18.

Possible sentence of 19 years

Baker already has pleaded not guilty to eight acts of oralcopulation involving a boy over a period ending in 1995 while thepriest was living at a Pico Rivera rectory. Prosecutors contend hemolested the boy for more than a decade, beginning at age seven. Thecharges carry a possible sentence of 19 years in state prison.

Baker's case is the latest involving allegations of clergyabuse that have tarnished the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largestin he United States.

On December 1 the archdiocese said it would pay $60m to settle45 lawsuits by people who claimed they were abused by priests, but asmany as 485 suits are still pending.

On Wednesday in Florida, a man who says a former RomanCatholic priest sexually abused him as a teenager sued the Archdioceseof Miami, raising the number of lawsuits involving Father Neil Dohertyto at least six.