On September 27, 2002, the Los Angeles County District Attorney filed 23 felony counts of 288(a) PC, Lewd Acts With a Child Under 14 Years of Age, against retired Catholic Priest George Neville Rucker.

On September 27, 2002, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives located Neville Rucker on a cruise ship bound for a trip around the world. The retired priest was scheduled to be gone for two months. At the direction of detectives, Rucker was removed from the ship and transported to Anchorage, Alaska. At an Extradition Hearing held in Anchorage, Neville Rucker waived extradition to Los Angeles.

On October 8, 2002, LAPD detectives took custody of Rucker and returned him to Los Angeles where he was booked on a felony warrant and held on a million-dollar bail. Rucker is scheduled to be arraigned today in Division 30.

During the six-month investigation by detectives from the LAPD’s Sexually Exploited Child Unit, allegations of child molestation, from more than 20 adult women, were investigated. The crimes, which spanned the decades of the 1940’s to the 1970’s, occurred while the victims were children. At the time the crimes were committed, Neville Rucker was assigned to churches and schools in Los Angeles and El Segundo.

Several of the victims, now adult women, have come forward from different parts of the country. Since these crimes occurred, new laws have been enacted that protect the identities of victims of sex crimes.

Additional information regarding this press release may be obtained from Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.