Press Statement – On October 31, 2025, Fr. Robert Mendez Esquivel appeared before Canyon County District Court for his arraignment. He entered a plea of “not guilty.” A pre-trial conference is scheduled for December 2, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. During the hearing, Fr. Esquivel’s attorneys requested a reduction in bond. The presiding judge granted the request, lowering the bond from $300,000 to $250,000. The trial remains set to begin on January 5, 2026. The diocese continues to ask

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 Arrai

Press Statement – September 25th, 2025 The preliminary hearing for Fr. Robert Mendez Esquivel, originally scheduled for September 25,...

September 16, 2025 Since issuing the statement of support for the religious Workforce Protection Act, I have taken concrete steps to...