Ousted Carmelite Brother At Joliet Catholic Academy Faces Multiple Child Sex Charges In New Jersey

JOLIET, IL — Carmelite Brother Pedro Cruz Diaz, who spent the 2024-2025 school year in Joliet assigned to Joliet Catholic Academy, is now back in New Jersey, where he faces criminal charges accusing him of committing sexual crimes against a 5-year-old child beginning in 2023, a year before he arrived in Joliet.

According to a segment that aired last November on the Joliet Catholic Academy student television broadcast show, Brother Pedro Cruz Diaz, Order of Carmelites, "just started at JCA with Campus Ministry."

Last week, Joliet Patch came across the New Jersey case after discovering a public statement about Brother Pedro buried on the Diocese of Joliet website under the category of "news releases." But the news release was not circulated to the news media by the Diocese of Joliet or Joliet Catholic Academy back in August; there is also no press release posted on the Diocese of Joliet or Joliet Catholic Academy Facebook pages.

The entire statement, dated Aug. 13, reads: "The Diocese of Joliet learned today that Carmelite Br. Pedro Cruz Diaz has been charged with criminal sexual assault of a minor in Middlesex County, New Jersey. This is an ongoing criminal investigation, and we do not have any further details regarding the allegations at this time.

"Br. Pedro had served as an intern at Joliet Catholic Academy since November 1, 2024, acting as a substitute teacher and assisting with campus ministry. The Diocese of Joliet and Joliet Catholic Academy are not aware of any alleged misconduct by Br. Pedro at JCA or in Illinois. Br. Pedro is no longer employed at JCA, and the investigation in New Jersey is ongoing."

On Thursday, a public information officer in New Jersey at the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office notified Patch that the judge has released the defendant and ordered him to have no contact with the victim or the victim's family and no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.

Brother Pedro is also scheduled to have his next criminal court appearance on Friday in New Jersey.

The New Jersey court documents indicate that Brother Pedro faces three charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault against someone under the age of 13.

The complaint indicates that Brother Pedro put his fingers into the girl's body and touched his own penis in front of the child.

According to the New Jersey court files, last July 20, the New Brunswick Police Department was notified of an incident involving a 6-year-old girl who reported being inappropriately touched by her babysitter's adult son, who was later identified as Pedro Cruz. During a forensic interview of the child, she described the babysitter's son as a man with dark hair, light skin and a big belly.

The victim described in graphic details all the various sexual acts the man did with his penis. The incidents all took place on the couch or the table at the babysitter's home, court files indicate.

Prosecutors noted that the incidents happened between Aug. 24, 2023, when the girl was 5 years old, and up until July 18, 2025.

One witness interviewed by the New Brunswick Police indicated the child victim disclosed to her that she was inappropriately touched on her private area by the babysitter's son. A second witness interviewed by police in New Jersey indicated the child was babysat at the house for approximately two years. A third witness interviewed by the same police department revealed that when the suspect visits the residence, the suspect sleeps on the couch. That same witness told the police that "she has seen the suspect and the victim on the couch together."

As for Brother Pedro's time in Joliet, he is mentioned in a handful of social media announcements from Joliet Catholic Academy. He was also interviewed by high school students in November 2024 for JCA's student television show, called WJCA Broadcast News, which is posted on YouTube and on the Joliet Catholic Academy Facebook site.

In the brief video interview of Brother Pedro, the Carmelite brother answered that he had just arrived in Joliet, after previously being stationed in Arizona.

Last May 1, Joliet Catholic Academy posted the following announcement on its Facebook page, "Today is Religious Brothers Day and we have witnessed the Carmelite way every day in the support and kindness we receive from Brother Neil and Brother Pedro. Thank you to the entire Order of Carmelites for the support and sponsorship you give Joliet Catholic Academy."

On Thursday, Joliet Catholic Academy director of institutional advancement Ryan Quigley, responding to Joliet Patch's set of interview questions, responded with the following statement:

"On August 12, 2025 the Diocese of Joliet and Joliet Catholic Academy notified parents and families that Br. Pedro Cruz Diaz, O. Carm was removed from ministry to allow a criminal investigation to take place due to an accusation of possible inappropriate behavior regarding a minor. Br. Pedro’s alleged criminal sexual misconduct occurred in New Jersey, not Illinois. As a result, he was immediately removed from ministry once the Carmelites learned of the allegation. Br. Pedro served as an intern at JCA from November 1, 2024 until May, 2025. Br. Pedro has not been employed at JCA during the 2025-2026 school year and the investigation in New Jersey is ongoing. He assisted in campus ministry and occasionally served as a substitute teacher. We are not aware of any alleged misconduct by Br. Pedro at JCA or in Illinois.”