Diocese of Oakland Sexual Abuse Allegations
The Diocese of Oakland sexual abuse allegations have deeply impacted individuals and families across Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
For decades, survivors of clergy sexual abuse remained silent; some out of fear, others because their reports were dismissed or ignored by church leadership. Today, many survivors are stepping forward, supported by stronger legal protections and greater public understanding of how childhood sexual abuse can affect every part of a person’s life.
At Injury Lawyer Team, we represent survivors who suffered sexual abuse under the authority of trusted religious institutions.
If you or someone close to you experienced abuse involving the Oakland Diocese, you may still have legal options, even if the abuse occurred decades ago. We offer confidential consultations to help survivors understand their rights and take meaningful steps toward accountability.

Who Are the Priests Accused of Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Oakland?
Records on Credible Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
Public records and reports compiled by Bishop Accountability have revealed a long list of California priests accused of childhood sexual abuse tied to the Diocese of Oakland. Some were later named in civil lawsuits, while others were quietly placed on administrative leave or transferred without public explanation.
- Fr. Jeffrey Acebo
- Bishop Floyd Begin
- Fr. Thomas Duong Binh-Minh
- Fr. Vincent Ignatius Breen
- Fr. Donald Eugene Broderson
- Fr. Kenneth Cabral
- Fr. Alexander Castillo
- Fr. Philip Colloty
- Fr. Hilary Cooper
- Fr. Virendra Coutts
- Fr. Sidney Custodio
- Fr. Pearse Donovan
- Fr. Donald Eagleson
- Fr. Joseph Ferreira
- Fr. Patrick Finnegan
- Fr. Robert Freitas
- Br. Adrian Furman
- Fr. John Garcia
- Fr. A. Leo Hofstee
- Fr. Domingos Jaques
- Fr. Stephen Kiesle
- Fr. Ronald LaGasse
- Fr. Tarcisio Lanuevo
- Fr. Cornelius Leehan
- Fr. Gary Luiz
- Sr. Mary Rosella McConnell
- Fr. John McCracken
- Fr. Michael McGinty
- Br. Bede McKinnon
- Fr. Daniel McLeod
- Fr. Hector David Mendoza Vela
- Fr. George Mockel
- Fr. Joaquin Moreno
- Br. Lawrence O’Brien
- Fr. William Odom-Green
- Fr. Jesus Garcia Prieto
- Fr. James Prindeville
- Br. Benedict Reams
- Fr. Arthur Ribeiro
- Fr. Anthony Slane
- Fr. Gary Tollner
- Fr. Ramon Varela
- Br. John Vas
- Br. Francis Verngren
- Fr. Gordon Wilcox
- Br. Terrence Wong
- Fr. Larry Young
Some of these clergy members served in multiple dioceses, including San Francisco and San Jose, before or after their assignments in Oakland. Allegations have surfaced showing that certain priests were reassigned to new locations after the church leadership became aware of abuse reports, often without informing the public or the parish communities.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Settlements Involving the Oakland Diocese
Over the years, the Oakland Diocese has faced mounting legal pressure from survivors seeking to hold the Catholic Church accountable for failing to prevent or report clergy sexual abuse.
Many of these lawsuits have resulted in significant settlements, including:
- Fr. Ricardo Chavez – Accused of sexual abuse of a 10-year-old altar boy beginning in 2003 at St. Peter Martyr in Pittsburg. The abuse allegedly continued for more than a decade. A lawsuit was settled in 2020 for $3.5 million. The plaintiff’s attorney stated that Chavez had previously been accused while serving at St. Leander in San Leandro in the 1990s, but the Diocese did not investigate. Chavez remained in ministry after new allegations surfaced in 2019.
- Fr. James Clark – Ordained in 1947, was convicted in 1963 of a felony sex offense involving a 19-year-old man. Despite the conviction, he was transferred to Corpus Christi Parish in Fremont, where he was accused of sexual abuse of multiple children between 1968 and 1972. At least three survivors filed lawsuits, including two brothers. One of the claims was part of a $56.4 million global settlement paid in 2005 to resolve 56 childhood sexual abuse claims against the Diocese.
- Fr. George Crespin – While serving as vicar general and chancellor from 1979 to 1994, Crespin was accused in a 2005 lawsuit of sexual abuse of a minor in 1975 in Union City. Though he denied the allegation and the Diocesan Review Board claimed there was “insufficient evidence,” the Diocese paid $600,000 in settlement. In 2019, another lawsuit under the California Child Victims Act accused Crespin and Fr. Stephen Kiesle of sexually abusing two boys in the 1970s. One victim said his friend, also a victim, died by suicide.
- Fr. George Francis – Ordained in 1937, was accused of sexual abuse of a 7-year-old girl in 1959. That lawsuit was settled in 1993. A second lawsuit, filed in 2002, accused him of abusing another girl between the ages of 5 and 11 during the early 1980s and was settled for $3 million in 2004. The Diocese admitted to multiple victims and listed Father George as credibly accused in 2019. In December 2024, another man testified that Francis sexually abused him at age 5 or 6 at St. Bede’s in Hayward.
- Br. Joseph Gutierrez-Cervantes – Accused of abusing students at De La Salle High School in Concord during the late 1960s through the 1980s. A civil suit was settled in 2004 for $4 million. He had left his order in 1985 but remained active in the community under a different name. New allegations from 1986 resurfaced in 2019.
- Fr. Robert Ponciroli – Ordained in 1969, was removed from ministry in 1995 after earlier allegations. He was sued in 2002 for sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy in 1975 in Antioch. In 2003, he was arrested for the abuse of two brothers, but charges were dropped due to statute of limitations rules. A civil suit led to a $2 million jury award in 2005. Ponciroli later admitted to being a sex addict and was laicized. The Diocese listed him among the credibly accused in 2019, with at least seven known victims.
- Fr. Stephen Whelan – Sued in 2003 by a former student at Salesian High School who alleged abuse, including rape, beginning in 1969. The plaintiff said other clergy witnessed the abuse and failed to act. A jury awarded $600,000 in 2006, and the verdict was upheld on appeal. Whelan was later removed from the ministry and named on the Diocese’s 2019 list.

How Long After the Clergy Sexual Abuse Occurred Can Victims File Civil Suits?
California’s Assembly Bill Pertaining to Claims Involving Sexual Abuse of a Minor
For many survivors of sexual abuse, the decision to come forward doesn’t happen immediately. Some wait decades before speaking about the abuse, often because of fear, shame, or the belief that too much time has passed to take legal action. Recognizing these barriers, California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily lifted time restrictions on many childhood sexual abuse claims.
Under AB 218, survivors were granted a three-year period, from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022, to file lawsuits even if their previous claims had expired under older laws. This revival window led to a significant increase in cases being filed against the Diocese of Oakland and other Catholic dioceses across the state.
In addition to this temporary window, AB 218 permanently extended the clergy abuse statute of limitations. Survivors now have until the age of 40 to file a civil lawsuit, or within five years of realizing the abuse caused psychological or emotional harm, whichever is later.
This change has opened the door for many who had been told it was “too late” to pursue legal action. Even if the abuse occurred decades ago, sexual abuse survivors may still be eligible to file a lawsuit, seek compensation, and hold the church leadership accountable for their role in enabling or covering up abuse.
How an Oakland Clergy Abuse Attorney Can Help
Pursuing a legal case against a powerful institution like the Catholic Church can feel overwhelming. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse often carry the weight of silence, disbelief, and years of personal struggle. Many were ignored or dismissed by church leadership after reporting what happened. Others were never given a path forward.
At Injury Lawyer Team, we represent survivors who were harmed by individuals and institutions they were told to trust. If you were subjected to sexual abuse by a priest, teacher, or other church official connected to the Diocese of Oakland, you deserve to understand your rights and options under California law.
Our California clergy sexual abuse attorneys can help with:
- Reviewing your situation in a private, confidential consultation
- Determining whether your case falls within the extended timeline under Assembly Bill 218
- Examining parish assignments and internal diocese records to establish patterns of alleged abuse
- Identifying whether the priest involved has already been credibly accused or previously sued
- Filing your claim and managing communications with church attorneys, insurers, and other involved parties
- Pursuing compensation for the long-term effects of the abuse, including emotional trauma and loss of opportunity
Taking legal action is one way clergy sex abuse survivors can hold the Diocese of Oakland and those who allowed the sexual misconduct to continue accountable. While criminal charges are often restricted by tight deadlines, civil lawsuits give survivors an opportunity to pursue compensation, expose institutional failures, and push for long-overdue responsibility from those in power.

Book a Free Consultation
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse connected to the Diocese of Oakland, you have the right to speak with a lawyer in a private and respectful setting. At Injury Lawyer Team, we know that sharing your story isn’t easy, especially when the person responsible was a priest, teacher, or trusted figure within the Church.
Our sexual abuse attorneys are here to listen and help you understand the legal process. We offer a free, confidential case evaluation to help you move forward. There’s no pressure to file before you’re ready, and no cost to speak with us about your potential claim.
Other Dioceses in Northern California Where We Can Help You File Claims Against Priests and Catholic Schools
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
- Diocese of San Jose
- Diocese of Santa Rosa
- Diocese of Stockton
- Diocese of Sacramento
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.








