Los Angeles archdiocese to settle 17 cases of alleged clergy abuse for $13 million

LOS ANGELES – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles will pay $13 million to 17 alleged victims of clergy sex abuse.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs announced Tuesday that the nation's largest diocese moved to settle 11 cases involving a visiting Mexican priest named Nicolas Aguilar Rivera rather than go to trial.

The settlement also involves six other lawsuits involving four other accused clergy.

Cardinal Roger Mahony would have been called to testify in the cases involving Aguilar Rivera.

Aguilar Rivera fled Los Angeles to Mexico in 1988 to avoid prosecution.

Police allege he abused 26 boys during his 10-month stay in LA.

Aguilar Rivera remains a fugitive a quarter-century later and is believed to be in Mexico.

J. Michael Hennigan, an attorney for the archdiocese, confirmed the settlement.