Br. Jorge Acosta

Order: SDB
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of St. Petersburg FL

Joined seminary at age 17. Left religious life in 1983. Age 46 in 2005 when named as abuser “Br. Jorges Acosta” by two men in a civil suit against the Salesians and Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa. Admitted in a 2/2007 deposition to sexual relations with three students in 1983 when he was teacher and cleric at school. He told the principal about two of the incidents; not reported to law enforcement. A second suit was filed in 4/2007. One settlement was announced in 7/2008. Amount confidential. Acosta developed a career as an actor in Tampa FL and NYC under the name JL Rey. No criminal charges due to the statute of limitations. Included in 3/2020 on the Salesians list of credibly accused.


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