Diocese of Brownsville TX

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Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

16 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Humberto Acosta

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Ordained: 1974
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Named publicly as accused by the Brownsville diocese on its list 1/31/19. Left the diocese in 1994. List notes "Allegation fully disclosed to receiving Military Ordinary in Venezuela."

Sources:

Diocese of Brownsville List 01.31.19

Fr. Gustavo Barrera

Ordained: 1979
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Monsignor. Removed from ministry in 3/2024 due to allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor occurring 35 years prior. Resigned and retired from Our Lady of Sorrows in McAllen. The Diocesan Review Board was investigating. Barrera's attorneys denied the allegation and alleged slander. On 4/4/2024 the Cameron County District Attorney's Office received an allegation by another person that Barrera had engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor. The Office opened an investigation.

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Deacon Ronaldo Mitchell Chavez

Ordained: 2010
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Deacon at small mission in Granjeno, TX. Arrested 1/17/14, charged with molesting an altar boy over a two-year period, 6/2010- 8/2012. Diocese had removed his privileges as deacon in 2012 when allegations first surfaced. Lost his job as principal at South Texas Educational Technologies Inc. when he was arrested. Pled guilty, sentenced to seven years in prison. Civil suit filed 6/5/14. On diocese's list 1/31/19.

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Fr. Lee DaCosta

Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Named publicly as accused by the Brownsville diocese on its list 1/31/19. Retired in 2012. Faculties removed in 2019.

Sources:

Diocese of Brownsville List 01.31.19

Fr. Armando Escobedo

Ordained: 1964
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Accused in a 6/25/10 civil suit of abusing a boy 1978-81, while assigned to Our Lady of St. John of Fields in Mission, TX. Much of the abuse is said to have occurred on parish property. Petition says Escobedo would ply the boy with alcohol. Escobedo denied the allegations. On the Brownsville diocese's list 1/31/19. It notes that he was removed from ministry in 2002.

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Fr. John B. Feit

Order: sP
Ordained: 1959
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Ordained for Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Pleaded no contest 1962 to reduced charge of aggravated assault for grabbing a young woman in church in 1960. Shortly after the 1960 assault, he became prime suspect in rape/murder of another young woman in McAllen, TX. Feit worked at Servants of the Paraclete treatment facility for clergy in NM for several years and joined the order. Becamed Superior; placed many abusers in outside positions. Left order in 1972, married and raised a family. Worked many yrs for St. Vincent de Paul Society in Phoenix. In 2002 a former priest told police Feit confessed the murder to him in 1963. Grand jury investigation in 2004. Not indicted. Arrested 2/9/16 on charges related to the 1960 murder. Waived extradition. Convicted at trial 12/7/17. Sentenced to life in prison. Was to be transferred to state prison, the Byrd Unit in Huntsville. Died in prison 2/11/20.

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Fr. Terrence Fowler

Ordained: 1988
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/31/19. Faculties removed in 1998. Laicization in process at time of list's release.

Sources:

Diocese of Brownsville List 01.31.19

Fr. Fernando Gonzalez Ortega

Ordained: 1995
Status: Indicted

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Assigned to St. Luke's in Brownsville when removed from active ministry 2/3/2024 after the Diocese received a report from a young adult that they were abused as a minor by Gonzalez. Arrested 2/12/2024, charged with trafficking and child sexual abuse. Indicted on new charges 5/8/2024. Allegedly sexually abused the child 12/27-2012 through 12/26/2014, as well as three times in 2017 and on 9/15/2022.

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Fr. C. James Jeffrey

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Ordained: 1959
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Ordained for the Diocese of Fargo, ND. On loan to Diocese of Brownsville, where his faculties were removed in 1988 and he was returned to Fargo. Died 5/28/17. Named publicly as accused by the Brownsville diocese on its list 1/31/19. Included on the Fargo diocese's list 1/2/20. Allegations substantiated.

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Fr. Basil Chukwuma Onyia

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Ordained: 1966
Status: Charged

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

From Nigeria. Worked in diocese beginning in 1999. A parish priest wrote to diocesan officials in 2000 about Onyia's behavior with women, and asked that he be removed. Onyia received a warning. Police learned in 2/01 that Onyia had sexually assaulted a mentally challenged teenage girl. He fled to Nigeria during the investigation. The girl sued in 2001, settled in 2003. Two other girls also filed suit in 2002. Laicized 2016. On the Brownsville diocese's list 1/31/19.

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Fr. Benedicto Ortiz

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Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Died: 05/14/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Ordained for the Diocese of Areciba, Puerto Rico. Incardinated 6/1/74 into the Diocese of Brownsville. Died 5/14/11. Named publicly as accused by the Brownsville diocese on its list 1/31/19. It notes a credible allegation received in 2016. A lawsuit filed in 2019 alleges Ortiz sexually abused two children, who were siblings, from in 1982 to 1985, beginning when the children were ages 10 and 13. The children's mother allowed the boys to live with Ortiz in the rectory five days per week for their safety. The abuse is said to have occurred in the rectory, on trips to South Padre Island, and included plying the children with drugs and alcohol.

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Fr. Salvador Rangel

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Order: MSF
Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Died: 05/18/2002
Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Named publicly as accused by the Brownsville diocese on its list 1/31/19. Removed from ministry in 1977, returned to his order. Died 5/18/02.

Sources:

Diocese of Brownsville List 01.31.19

Fr. Ivan M. Rovira

Ordained: 1971
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

From Cuba. Ordained for the Rockford, IL diocese. Incardinated into the Diocese of Brownsville 6/6/1977. Removed quietly in 2002 after two brothers gave detailed written complaints to the diocese alleging abuse by Rovira in the late 1970s-early 1980s. Their ages at the time ranged from 9 to early teens. He admitted to abusing one but not the other. Faculties removed. Two other men made complaints in 2003. Although still a Brownsville priest, as of 2005 Rovira had been living in Mexico since 2002 and was in active ministry, teaching at Universidad del Noreste de Mexico in the Diocese of Matamoros. Resigned in 2005 after news reports that he was seen on TV con-celebrating a mass for a new bishop at the cathedral in Matamoros. On the Brownsville Diocese's list 1/31/2019. Added to the Diocese of Rockford's list 10/21/2020. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report.

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Fr. Salomon Sandoval

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Ordained: 1979
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Named publicly as accused by the Brownsville diocese on its list 1/31/19. It notes his removal from ministry in the diocese in 1986, and allegation "fully disclosed to receiving bishop in Ciudad Victoria." Deceased, date unknown.

Sources:

Diocese of Brownsville List 01.31.19

Fr. Michael Zilligen

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Ordained: 1973
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

A man reported to police in 1/04 that he had been sexually assaulted by Zilligen at age 11 during a 1973 or 1974 sleepover for altar boys at Prince of Peace Parish. He alleged that it developed into a six-year "relationship." Zilligen is not listed in the 1989 Official Catholic Directory. Shown as absent on leave per 1995 directory.

Sources:

The Monitor 01.10.04

Fr. Martin G. Zuber

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Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Brownsville TX

Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 1/31/19. Removed from ministry in 1993. Laicized 2018.

Sources:

Diocese of Brownsville List 01.31.19

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