4 Former Martinez Priests In Sexual Misconduct Allegations Report

BAY AREA — A law firm has released a report listing the names of more than 200 Catholic priests who are accused of sexual misconduct in the dioceses of Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose, including four who formerly served in Martinez.

Some of the clergy named worked in more than one diocese:

• 135 listings with the Archdiocese of San Francisco;
• 95 listings from the Diocese of Oakland;
• 33 listings from the Diocese of San Jose.

"This report is intended to raise awareness about the important issue of clerical sexual abuse, provide the public with vital information including assignment histories, and provide awareness to survivors. Assignment histories are approximations and were compiled from The Official Catholic Directory, bishopaccountability.org and media reports," said law firm Jeff Anderson & Associates, emphasizing that "the allegations should be considered just allegations and should not be considered proved or substantiated in a court of law."

Formerly from the Martinez area are:

• Fr. Kenneth J. Cabral served from 1963-1965 at St. Catherine of Sienna. He is now retired, according to the report.

• Fr. Robert E. Freitas who served from 1985-1987 St. Catherine of Sienna in Martinez

"Fr. Robert Freitas was accused in 2003 of having sexually abused an 11-year-old boy in approximately 1977 at All Saints in Hayward. In 2002, Fr. Freitas was arrested and charged with molesting a 15-year-old boy in 1979 at Santa Paula in Fremont. In 1985, Fr. Freitas was accused of molesting two teen boys at
Our Lady of the Rosary in Union City," the report states.

"Fr. Freitas was finally removed from ministry for six months and sent to the House of Affirmation, a treatment center for clergy, in Massachusetts. In 2002, following his arrest and charges, Fr. Freitas pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation. It is believed that there are at least four more child sex abuse victims of Fr. Freitas who have not come forward yet. Fr. Freitas’ current whereabouts, his status as a priest, and whether he has access to children are unknown."

• Fr. Ronald J. LaGasse who in 1981 was at St. Catherine of Sienna.

"Fr. Ronald J. LaGasse was arrested in 1984 on suspicion of sexually abusing a 17-year-old boy at St. Raymond in Dublin, CA. He was sent for treatment and placed on leave for one year, then reassigned. It is believed he worked as an abbot of an independent Benedictine Monastery in Hawaii. As of 2012, Fr. LaGasse was believed to be living in Phoenix, AZ," the report states.

• Fr. Tarcisio D. Lanuevo served at St. Catherine of Sienna from 1977-1978

"Fr. Tarcisio Lanuevo was accused of sexually abusing two girls at St. John the Baptist in San Lorenzo in 1979. The two girls filed a civil lawsuit, naming Fr. Lanuevo, in 1993. The victims claimed the reason they dropped the criminal charges in 1979 was because the Diocese promised that Fr. Lanuevo would receive treatment
and would never again have access to children. Fr. Lanuevo allegedly sexually abused minors at St. Joachim in Hayward," according to the file.

"Fr. Lanuevo remained working in the Oakland diocese until 1991. In 1993, Fr. Lanuevo was working at a VA Domiciliary in Oregon the Portland diocese. Fr. Lanuevo’s current whereabouts, his status as a priest, and whether he has access to children are unknown."

View the full report here.

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--Bea Karnes, Patch, contributed to this report/Shutterstock image