A Catholic priest accused of sexual abuse appeared before a judge Thursday.

Father Richard Ordonez is accused of sexually abusing a young woman from St. Vito?s parish in Mamaroneck four years ago.

The district attorney claims that although Ordonez, 37, did not admit to any crime, he made statements that allowed police to take him into custody.

Ordonez, a native of Ecuador, was arrested at JFK International Airport Monday after a trip abroad. The clergyman?s attorney insists his client was not trying to flee the country because he was under the impression that the matter regarding accusations against him had been settled.

The prosecution, however, calls Ordonez?s behavior suspicious.

Ordonez first came to the Mamaroneck parish in 2003 as a visiting priest. In September 2008, when the woman made a complaint against him, he was not working at St. Vito?s church.

?She heard that he was returning, and she was fearful,? says Lt. James Gaffney, of the Mamaroneck Police Department.

The judge set a $50,000 for Ordonez?s release. The priest is due back in court next week. He had already surrendered his passports to the authorities.