Father William Valverde
Diocese of San Diego
Ordained: 1962
Assigned as Follows:
- 1963-1964: Mary Star of the Sea (Oceanside, CA)
- 1965: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Indio, CA)
- 1966: St. Mary (El Centro, CA)
- 1967: Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine (Riverside, CA)
- 1968: St. Joseph (Upland, CA)
- 1969-1970: St. Edward (Corona, CA)
- 1971-1973: St. Mary (Escondido, CA)
- 1974-1976: St. Ann Church (Needles, CA)
- 1977: City County Jail (San Diego, CA)
- 1978-1982: Patton State Hospital (Patton, CA)
- 1983-1984: On Leave
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father William Valverde:
Father William Valverde was ordained a priest in 1962, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of San Diego. He helped organize community counseling centers in several towns and worked with “delinquent” youths. He left active priesthood in 1983.
According to media reports, in December 2003, Father Valverde was named in a civil lawsuit filed by two men alleging that in the mid-1970s, he had repeatedly exposed them and others to “alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and deviant sex” while they were minors at St. Ann in Needles, California. According to their attorney, four adult parishioners traveled to San Diego to meet with Bishop Leo Maher, who had jurisdiction over the San Bernardino County parish. They warned him that Father Valverde, was “out of control.”
In March 2007, Father Valverde’s name was included in the Diocese of San Diego’s list of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Through clerical errors, these 2 plaintiffs were not included in 2007 San Diego settlement and their lawsuit still existed until a settlement was reached in April 2008.
Father Valverde was sentenced to a life of prayer and penance in 2010.
His current whereabouts are unknown.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of San Diego in California. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in one of California’s Catholic dioceses, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of San Diego now have legal options due to a temporary change in the law, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in California and nationwide. We can help.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.