Fr. Hadmels R. DeFrias
From the Dominican Republic. Accused of fondling two brothers under the age of 14 when they worked at the rectory of St. Mary of the Assumption in Elizabeth in 2001 and 2002. Their mother walked in on an incident and complained to church officials. DeFrias was removed from the parish and active ministry. He relocated to MD. In 8/2003 he learned of pending criminal charges against him and turned himself in to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office in Elizabeth. He pleaded guilty in 8/2024, was sentenced to three years probation and was barred from contact with minors in NJ. From 2003-2010 DeFrias owned a body shop in NJ. He lived in FL 2012-2013. His name was included 2/13/2019 on the Archdiocese’s list of credibly accused, noted to have been laicized. In 3/2019 DeFrias was found to be teaching children at a private school in the Dominican Republic. He was presenting himself as “Father Rafael” as part of an interfaith group called “The Order of Eremitic Servants.”
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