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The sentence was handed down on April 29th by Judge Vandervelde, who established a unified sentence of 15 years, composed of three years of mandatory fulfillment and 12 additional years of indeterminate character. This means that the religious man must remain in prison for at least three years before being able to opt for the benefit of parole, as established by the legislation of that state.
In addition to the sentence, Méndez Esquivel will be registered as a sex offender in Idaho, a measure that implies legal restrictions and permanent monitoring by the authorities.The Boise Diocese itself, to which the priest belonged, confirmed the sentence through an official statement, in which its bishop, Peter Christensen, also spoke.
We recommend reading: Méndez Esquivel had served as a priest in communities in Puntarenas before moving to the United States. Courtesy: Social media“My heart is with the victim and with all those who have been affected by this profound betrayal of trust. As we now know, the actions of this priest strongly contrast with the vocation he was called to live faithfully in Christ”, expressed the religious leader.
The case dates back to August 27, 2025, when Méndez Esquivel, 46 years old, was arrested while serving as a priest at St. Paul’s parish, located in the city of Nampa. After his arrest, he was transferred to the Canyon County jail, where he remained awaiting the judicial process.
According to court documents and the version of the US Attorney's Office, the priest would have contacted the victim, a 16-year-old minor, through the dating app Grindr. Subsequently, both coordinated a meeting in a park, where the events that gave rise to the criminal case allegedly occurred. During the process, the defendant admitted to having downloaded the application and acknowledged having had sexual acts with the minor. As part of an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office, two other additional charges against him were dropped, one for rape and another for child sexual abuse. The case also included impact testimonies presented by the victim and his family. According to court reports cited by local media, the minor expressed feeling ashamed of what happened and indicated that he still doesn't know if he will be able to overcome the situation. For her part, the young man's mother expressed her indignation in a letter addressed to the court, questioning the priest's conduct. The religious man met the victim through a dating app, according to court documents. Courtesy: Social media The Nampa Police clarified that the events did not occur within the church's facilities or in the school program linked to the parish. However, the authorities indicated that the investigation remained open during the process to determine if there were other possible victims. Méndez Esquivel participated in ministries called "Valor y Ánimo", a program aimed at people with same-sex attraction who seek to live according to Catholic doctrine on sexuality. This element generated additional questions about his role within the religious community. The priest is originally from Esparza, in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. According to information provided by the Diocese of Puntarenas, he stayed for 13 years in India as a missionary, where he was ordained a priest in 2016. Subsequently, he returned to the country in 2020, after completing a relocation process that began in 2019. During his stay in Costa Rica, he served as a parish vicar in communities such as Monteverde, Quepos, and his native Esparza. In February 2022, he moved to the United States to perform pastoral duties at St. Paul's parish in Idaho, where he remained until the time of his arrest. After the sentence was announced, the Diocese of Boise reiterated its commitment to the protection of minors and assured that it fully cooperated with the civil authorities throughout the judicial process. The case has generated shock in both the local community in Idaho and in Costa Rica, as it involves a religious figure with an international career and recent links in different communities in the country.
