BOISE (ID)
KTVB-TV, NBC-7 [Boise ID]
October 31, 2025
By Richard Rodriguez
Robert Mendez Esquivel appeared in court on Friday. He is facing charges of rape of a minor. The judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
BOISE, Idaho — A Nampa Catholic priest accused of raping a minor appeared in Canyon County court Friday for his arraignment.
A Canyon County judge entered a not guilty plea for Robert Mendez Esquivel, who remained silent during the hearing.
Mendez, a priest at Saint Paul’s in Nampa, was taken into custody in late August on an arrest warrant for child sexual battery charges. Prosecutors later charged him with rape of a child.
Prosecutors allege Mendez knowingly met with a victim after connecting on the dating app Grindr before the alleged assault occurred.
Mendez’s defense argued the 16-year-old victim was on Grindr and lied about their age. Prosecutors said state evidence shows Mendez knew the victim was 16 and expressed concern about whether the victim’s parents were home before picking them up.
Mendez was arrested and booked into the Canyon County Jail on Aug. 27. He faces charges of rape and two counts of sexual battery of a minor child, 16 or 17 years of age.
The judge reduced Mendez’s bond from $300,000 to $250,000. Mendez’s defense agreed to surrender his passport. His pretrial hearing is set for Dec. 2.