Father Jesus Dominguez
Diocese of San Bernardino
Ordained: 1983
Removed: 1993
Laicized: 2000
Assigned as follows:
- 1983-1984: St. Edward Church (Corona, CA)
- 1984-1987: Our Lady of Soledad Church (Coachella, CA)
- 1987-1991: St. James Church (Perris, CA)
- 1992-1993: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Chino, CA)
Summary of Abuse Allegations against Father Jesus Dominguez:
Fr. Jesus Dominguez came to the Diocese of San Bernardino in 1978, when former Bishop Phillip F. Straling appointed him as his personal assistant. He worked at various churches in Southern California throughout the 1980s. Dominguez was placed on a leave of absence in July 1993. He was voluntarily removed from ministry in 2000. According to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, in 2001, he was arrested and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor child molestation charge in Downey.
According to media reports, in December 2004, Dominguez was named in three civil lawsuits alleging that he sexually abused three altar boys while he worked at Our Lady of Soledad Church in Coachella in the mid-1980s. He was also accused of molesting three boys at St. James Church in Perris, a Los Angeles County Catholic school, during the 1970s. According to one lawsuit, while at Our Lady of Soledad Church, Dominguez and his pastor had “heated arguments” over bringing boys to his room. He was ordered to leave his door open when minors were in his room.
In 2005, Dominguez was criminally charged with 58 counts of child molestation in connection with his sexual abuse of two boys at Our Lady of Soledad Church in Coachella and St. James Church in Perris. Shortly after, he fled to Mexico before he could be arrested and has been a fugitive since. Prosecutors secured a $500,000 arrest warrant. He faces more than 43 years in prison if convicted.
In February 2004, he was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. It noted six accusers from 1973 through 1988. In October 2018, he was included in the Diocese of San Bernardino’s list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. It noted the Diocese of San Bernardino, was aware of allegations involving Dominguez as early as June 1987. His current whereabouts are unknown. He remains a fugitive from the law and is listed on America’s Most Wanted list.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Bernardino. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in San Bernardino, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of San Bernardino now have legal options to recover damages due to a compensation fund created for victims. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an email to [email protected] to discuss your options today.