Crime & Safety
East Bay Priest Arrested On 30 Child Sex Abuse Counts
Fr. David Mendoza has been arrested on 30 counts of suspected child sex abuse. He has ties to Fremont and San Lorenzo.
SAN LORENZO, CA — A former priest in San Lorenzo has been arrested on 30 counts of suspected child sex abuse. Fr. David Mendoza, who worked at St. John’s Catholic Church and then Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fremont, was arrested Friday, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office wrote in a Facebook post Sunday.
"Our investigation learned this abuse occurred with one child victim over an 18-month period starting in 2016," the office wrote.
Vela had worked at St. John’s and Corpus Christi during the incidents. There are no known cases in Fremont, authorities said.
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Vela was in custody Sunday at Santa Rita Jail and was placed on leave by the diocese.
No other child victims are known. Victims are encouraged to come forward and report any suspected abuse to law enforcement.
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Michael C. Barber, bishop of Oakland, wrote a letter to parishioners Saturday confirming Mendoza-Vela was placed on administrative leave.
"While we do not have all the details, the alleged behavior is in clear violation of the Diocese's code of conduct and the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," the letter said.
The diocese is in contact with law enforcement agents in Fremont and is following its internal protocols.
"This means, while the situation is being investigated, Father Mendoza-Vela may not present himself in public as a priest nor engage in any priestly ministry," the letter said.
A temporary parochial administrator will be appointed for the parish as soon as possible, wrote Barber.
The arrest comes after the Diocese of Oakland in February named 45 clergymen and religious brothers that it said were "credibly" accused of sexually abusing children.
Mendoza-Vela is not on the list.
It wasn't immediately known if Mendoza-Vela has an attorney.
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