29th Person Charges Priest with Molestation

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
March 15, 2017

http://www.kuam.com/story/34849806/2017/03/15/29th-person-charges-priest-with-molestation

Yet another multi-million dollar suit has been lodged against the Archdiocese of Agana, but not by a former altar boy. 37-year-old Timothy Ryan Shiroma filed his complaint in the District Court of Guam on Wednesday. Court documents state he was only 9 when he was sexually molested by former priest Raymond Cepeda.

Shiroma was a student at the Cathedral Grade School, which was adjacent to the Hagatna Cathedral. While using the church phone after school to call his ride, he alleges Cepeda pinned him to the ground, stuffed his head in his backpack, and sexually molested him. From then on, he rode the bus home and would fake sick to avoid attending mass at the Cathedral.

KUAM News files show Cepeda was laicized - removed as a priest - in December 2009.

Shiroma marks the 29th plaintiff to sue the Church. Like other plaintiffs represented by Attorney David Lujan, he is seeking $5 million in damages.