Accused priest Cepeda dies at 66

By Jerick Sablan
Pacific Daily News
November 15, 2017

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2017/11/15/accused-priest-cepeda-dies/864971001/

Father Raymond Cepeda is shown in this June 5, 2004 file photo.

Former Guam priest Raymond Cepeda, who is accused in 11 different lawsuits of sexually abusing children on island, died Tuesday, according to information provided at a hearing Wednesday morning in federal court.

Attorney Jacqueline Terlaje, who represents Archbishop Anthony Apuron in separate clergy abuse lawsuits, informed the court about Cepeda’s death during a hearing on the Apuron cases. She did not provide details about how or where Cepeda died.

Cepeda was 66, according to voter records.

The Archdiocese of Agana, in a statement, later confirmed the death of Cepeda and said he was ill for many years.

The statement didn't say what he was ill from.

The archdiocese extends prayers and condolences to Cepeda’s family and friends, the statement states. 

Lawsuits, filed in federal and local court, accuse Cepeda of abusing children between 1974 and 1999.

The Archdiocese of Agana in April 2010 announced that Cepeda had been removed from the priesthood in December 2009, following a church investigation "of serious allegations of abuse."

The most recent lawsuit against Cepeda, filed by plaintiff “P.P.” on Oct. 17, accuses Cepeda of sexually abusing the former altar boy at Dededo’s Santa Barbara Catholic Church from 1992 to 1999.

Some of the sexual assaults happened during overnight retreats in Talofofo and Mongmong, the complaint states.