Priest Who Visited Joliet Church Charged With Crime: Complaint

JOLIET ? Two months after Joliet Patch reported the news surrounding allegations regarding the behavior of a Houston, Texas, Catholic priest, Rev. Carlos Martins, the 50-year-old priest is now being charged in Will County with committing a crime during his brief visit to Joliet in November.

Thursday's criminal complaint handled by the Joliet Police Department alleges that Martins committed the crime of battery on Nov. 25. Martins knowingly and without legal justification made contact of an insulting or provoking nature with a minor in that Father Martens put the hair of the girl into his mouth, the complaint noted.

Fr. Martins now has a Joliet police warrant out for his arrest. Will County Judge Tom Slazyk issued the warrant, and he wants the Catholic priest to be held without release and brought before his court for a pretrial detention hearing.

On Nov. 25, Joliet Patch reported that the Diocese of Joliet found itself the subject of an investigation involving allegations that a traveling priest engaged in criminal behavior with students.

The incident happened at the new parish grade school campus for the former St. Paul's and St. Jude's, now called the Queen of Apostles School.

"The ministry of Fr. Carlos Martins has been temporarily suspended pending an ongoing police investigation into a recent complaint at one of his relic expositions that took place in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois," the Companions of The Cross website announced. "Fr. Roger Vandenakker, General Superior of the Companions of the Cross, has been fully informed of this matter."

Joliet Patch reached out to the Joliet Police Department seeking more information on the incident.

"Officers responded to the school .... The students involved are safe. It was learned that the priest is from out of town and traveling with the Tour of the Relic of St. Jude, " Joliet Police Spokesman Dwayne English informed Joliet Patch in November. "The safety and well-being of the students is our top priority, and we are working closely with diocese officials to gather all necessary information. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, I am unable to provide further details at this time."