Robert Mendez Esquivel appeared at the Canyon County Courthouse.

Press Statement –

On October 23, 2025, Fr. Robert Mendez Esquivel appeared for his preliminary hearing at the Canyon County Courthouse. Fr. Esquivel elected to waive the preliminary hearing, thereby forgoing the presentation of evidence and testimony by the state for a judicial determination of probable cause. This procedural step allows the case to proceed without delay.

As a result of the waiver, Fr. Esquivel’s next court appearance is scheduled for a District Court Arraignment on October 31, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge VanderVelde, at which time he will enter a formal plea of guilty or not guilty.

Should Fr. Esquivel enter a plea of not guilty, a jury trial has been set for January 5–9, 2026.

The Diocese of Boise remains committed to cooperating fully with legal authorities and supporting all parties involved in this matter. We ask for continued prayers for justice, healing, and resolution during this process.

For further inquiries, please contact Marco Roman, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Boise.

Sincerely,

Marco Roman, Ph.D

Director of Communications

Diocese of Boise