NASHVILLE (TN)
WSMV [Nashville TN]
June 14, 2024
By Daniel Smithson
A former Franklin priest is facing new charges after being indicted this month by a Williamson County grand jury.
Juan Carlos Garcia-Mendoza, 31, of Franklin, was indicted on two additional counts of sexual battery on June 5.
In February, Garcia-Mendoza was indicted for the continuous abuse of a child, aggravated sexual battery, four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of sexual battery. Garcia-Mendoza is a former associate pastor at St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin.
The diocese had received reports of alleged misconduct by Father Garcia, resulting in an investigation by the Franklin Police Department and his removal from his position in early November 2023.
Garcia remains jailed in the Williamson County Jail on a $2 million bond.
The Franklin Police Department is asking the public to contact Detective Andrea Clark at 615-550-6829 or andrea.clark@franklintn.gov with information about Garcia-Mendoza.
Daniel Smithson
CONTENT PRODUCER
Nashville, TN
Daniel Smithson is a graduate of the University of Florida. He has worked previously as a digital reporter at WKRG in Pensacola, Fla., and a reporter at The Gainesville Sun newspaper in Gainesville, Fla. He now works as a Content Producer for WSMV in Nashville.
