Diocese of Stockton CA

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

14 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Francis Arakal

Order: OCD
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

From India. Arrived in the U.S. in 1998. Placed on leave in 4/02, reinstated in 7/02. A woman filed suit in 9/02 claiming Arakal had touched her 13-year-old daughter on her breasts in a sexual manner in 2001. Also accused of touching the breasts and pelvic area of younger daughter. One girl told another priest who told Arakal; both men confronted the girl. Jury cleared Arakal of sexual battery but awarded family $20K for way the two priests responded. In 2009 Arakal was parochial vicar at St. Bernard in Tracy, CA.

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Fr. Antonio Camacho

Donate Photo

Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Extern priest from the Diocese of San Juan de lost Lagos in Jalisco, Mexico working in the Dioceses of Stockton and Oakland CA. Accused of abuse of two high school boys at St. Stanislaus in Modesto 1/11/1982 - 02/1719/84. He was briefly at St. Anthony Parish in Hughson 12/1981 - 1/1982. Removed from ministry and returned to Mexico at request of (then) Bishop Mahony of Stockton. Named in Cardinal Mahony's 2004 deposition and a memo from the Bishop of Stockton to police. Name is included on list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton Diocese's 5/9/2014 filing in bankruptcy court.

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Br. Didachus Clavell

Order: OFM
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Correct spelling of first name is believed to be Didacus. Assigned to St. Mary's High School in approximately 1964. Name first publicly shown on list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton Diocese's 5/9/2014 filing in bankruptcy court. Still active as of 2012-2013. Included on the Santa Barbara Province Franciscans list 5/31/2019. It notes "substantial contrary evidence; unable to corroborate allegation."

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Fr. Murty M. Fahy

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1958
Status: Sued

Died: 03/2/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Associate pastor at St. Anne's Church, Lodi 8/85-3/01. Also teacher at St. Mary High School 1970-85. Accused in 2006 of abuse of a girl in the mid-1990s at his church's elementary school. Police conducted investigation but were unable to substantiate the allegations. Diocese officials still investigating as of 01/07. Civil suit filed in 12/06 by a woman alleging abuse age 5-11. Plaintiff dismissed suit 11/07. Fahy died 3/2/01. Name included on list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton diocese's 5/9/14 filing in bankruptcy court.

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Fr. Julio Cesar Guarin-Sosa

Status: Not Guilty

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Visiting priest from Colombia. Filled-in at St. Anne in Lodi, CA while his brother (parish priest) was on vacation. Arrested in 3/13 on charges of molestation of a minor (kissing a 16-year-old girl), sexual battery and illegal entry. Reportedly, he was in town to preside at a private mass for the girl's family. Removed without privileges by Stockton bishop. Released on bail 3/28/13. Felony charges dropped 6/13. Found not guilty by jury of misdemeanor charges 10/11/13.

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Fr. Michael Eugene Kelly

Ordained: 1973
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

From Ireland. Accused of the sexual abuse, including rape, of multiple children. Psychological evaluation in 1999 after parents complained to the Stockton diocese of inappropriate touching of their children; determined to have "latent pedophilic elements." Moved to another parish. Removed in 10/2007 after a claim that he molested a 10-year-old boy in 1984. Denied the allegation. Reinstated in 3/2008; claimant wouldn't cooperate. Suit filed 3/27/2008. New allegations in 2011 of abuse 2000-2002. Stayed active. Found liable 4/6/2012 by a civil jury of abuse . Privileges removed. Fled to Ireland in 4/2012 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Calaveras County District Attorney sought extradition. Diocese settled lawsuit 4/20/2012 for $3.75M. New suits in 9/2012 and 11/2012. He denied both. New indictments 1/14/2014. Name included on a list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton Diocese's 5/9/2014 filing in bankruptcy court. Traveled to Mexico and Morocco. Arrested in 2016 by federal authorities in Morocco, held for months, returned to Ireland. The Calaveras County District Attorney dropped the charges in 2016 after Kelly's 26-year-old accuser died. Still wanted in 1/2017 by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of CA for unlawful flight. New suit filed in 2022 of abuse of a boy in 1979; the boy was a referee in the youth soccer lead Kelly helped found. In 11/2023 the CA Attorney General was to investigate the District Attorney's 2016 dropping of charges.

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Fr. Editho Mascardo

Ordained: 1983
Status: Reinstated

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Report made to Stockton police in 2001 of inappropriate conduct by Mascardo toward minor; no charges filed. Claim resurfaced in 7/15. Placed on leave, diocese investigated. In 5/16, review board told bishop it "did not determine sexual abuse occurred." Return to ministry as hospital chaplain in Modesto announced 12/16. Among previous assignments: St. George's, Stockton 1996-99; St. Mary of Assumption 1999-2006; St. Anthony's, Hughson 2006-11; then St. Patrick's, Sonora and in res. at Holy Family, Modesto until 7/15 removal.

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Fr. Edward Noonan

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1914
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

From Ireland. Ordained in Salt Lake City, UT, where he worked for ten years. Transferred to the San Francisco Bay Area. Elevated to monsignor in 1962. Pastor of St. Gertrude' s in Stockton 1943-66. Retired to Ireland in 1969. Died 1/20/70. Named publicly as accused by the Stockton diocese on its list 2/23/17. Abuse alleged to have occurred 1952-55, 1959-62, 1965, and 1967, reported in 2003 and 2014.

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Diocese of Stockton List 02.23.17
Diocese of Stockton Revised List 11.12.20

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Sacramento Bee Obituary 01.22.70
Diocese of Stockton List 02.23.17

Fr. Oliver Francis O’Grady

Ordained: 1971
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

From Ireland. Worked many years in CA. Convicted 1993 in CA. Received 14-year sentence, served 7; deported to Ireland 2000. Settlement of $7M, among others. Admitted to sexual abuse of 25 boys and girls. Laicized. Fled Ireland 10/06; Suit filed 12/06. Irish Archdiocese settled 12/06 for $3M. New suit 12/07 by woman. Worked in Netherlands; returned to Ireland per 4/10 article. Diocese paid $2M 6/10 to 2. New suit 10/10. Arrested for child porn in Ireland 12/10. Sentenced to 3 years jail in 1/12. New suit 5/12. Four suits dismissed on SOL 6/12. Released from Irish jail 4/14, living unsupervised. Name on list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton Diocese's 5/9/14 filing in bankruptcy court. Wanted by Irish authorities for child porn; arrested in Portugal in 10/19. Convicted. Sentenced to 22 months in jail. Released in 3/21.

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Fr. Oscar A. Pelaez

Ordained: 1994
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Extern priest from Colombia. Had been in Stockton diocese since ordination. Accused of abuse of a boy for three years. Arrested in early 2002; pled guilty. Sentenced to six years prison. Released on parole after three. Diocese paid $1M settlement after conviction. Name included on list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton diocese's 5/9/14 filing in bankruptcy court.

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Fr. Eduardo Perez Torrez

Ordained: 1995
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Full name Eduardo De Jesus Preez Torrez. From the Diocese of Palmira, Colombia. Worked in Stockton diocese 1999-2014. Per 2/08/18 news reports, the Modesto CA police received a report that Perez sexually abused a 15-year-old girl in 1999. Perez was assigned to St. Stanislaus in Modesto 12/99-4/04. From there worked at parishes in Oakdale, Stockton and Riverbank. The diocesan review board was investigating.

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Diocese of Stockton Revised List 11.12.20

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Fr. Antonio Munoz Rodriguez

Donate Photo

Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

Visiting priest from the Archdiocese of Tijuana, Mexico. Assigned as associate pastor of St. George's Parish in Stockton 12/12/1977-5/19/1979 and St. Anthony's Parish inHughson 5/19/1979-9/18/1981. Faculties removed by then-Stockton Bishop Mahony immediately, who told Munoz to stay in México or he would inform police and immigration officials. (When Mahony testified in the 1998 O'Grady trial, he had stated that O'Grady was the only accused priest with whom he dealt in Stockton.) Cardinal Mahony stated in a 2004 deposition that he removed Munoz Rodriguez after parents met with him and alleged that the priest sexually abused several high school students during a 1981 trip he organized to Tijuana. Munoz Rodriguez' name was included on a list of claimed abusers attached to the Stockton diocese's 5/9/2014 filing in bankruptcy court.

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Fr. Leo Suarez

Ordained: 1988
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

From Mexico. The Diocese announced in 1/2010 that Suarez was permanently removed in 2009 after he admitted that he had abused a minor girl during his initial assignment as associate pastor at St. Anthony's in Hughson. He left there in 1991. After his removal, Suarez was sent for treatment. Per the Diocese, this was first allegation against him. Police report filed in 9/2009. No criminal investigation due to the statute of limitations. Diocese settled for $300K with one person in 9/2010. Name included on list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton diocese's 5/9/2014 filing in bankruptcy court. The list revised in 2019 shows allegations in 2014 of abuse in 1996.

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Fr. Fernando Villalobos

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1979
Status: Sued

Died: 12/31/1985
Diocese: Diocese of Stockton CA

A 2/2003 civil RICO suit alleged that Villalobos abused a boy, ages 12-15, in 1980-1983, while at at St. Mary's in Stockton, and that then-Bishop Mahony and other diocese officials covered it up. Another suit filed in 11/2003 also claimed abuse at St. Mary's. Shortly before he died 12/31/1985, at age 38, Villalobos also allegedly attempted to abuse the plaintiff's brother. [Note: this may be two suits by same plaintiff.] Name included on list of claimed abusers was attached to the Stockton diocese's 5/9/2014 filing in bankruptcy court. Included on the Santa Barbara Province Franciscans list 5/31/2019, noting allegations received 2004, 2014 and 2018 of abuse 1979-1983. A suit filed in 12/2019 claims abuse of a boy, age 16, in 1979.

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