Idaho Priest Sentenced to Up to 15 Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Sexual Abuse of Teen in Nampa
Why It Matters
The sentencing of a Nampa Catholic priest on charges of sexual battery of a minor underscores the ongoing threat posed by adults in positions of authority who exploit minors. Idaho law enforcement and prosecutors in Canyon County pursued the case aggressively, seeking maximum accountability for the abuse of a 16-year-old victim.
The case also raises questions about supervision of clergy and the use of dating applications by adults seeking access to minors — a trend law enforcement agencies across Idaho and the nation have flagged as a growing concern.
What Happened
Robert Mendez Esquivel, a former priest at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of sexual battery of a minor. Esquivel, who was known to parishioners as “Father Toto,” had served at the Nampa parish since 2022.
According to Nampa Police, Esquivel met the 16-year-old victim through the dating app Grindr. The two met at a Nampa park, where investigators said a sexual act occurred. Authorities confirmed the victim had no connection to St. Paul’s Catholic Church or its affiliated school.
Esquivel was originally arrested in August and charged with rape and two counts of sexual battery of a minor. In January, he pleaded guilty to a single count of sexual battery of a minor, and the remaining charges were dropped. The sentencing was handed down on April 29, 2026.
The judge structured the sentence as three years fixed, followed by 12 years indeterminate. Esquivel is also prohibited from having contact with the victim or with minors without parental consent.
By the Numbers
- 15 years — maximum prison term under Esquivel’s sentence (3 fixed, 12 indeterminate)
- 20 years — prison term prosecutors sought, arguing the conduct was deliberate
- 16 — age of the victim at the time of the offense
- 45 — Esquivel’s age, cited by prosecutors in arguing Idaho law exists to protect minors from adults in positions of power
- 2022 — year Esquivel began serving as a priest at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Nampa
What Was Said in Court
Prosecutors argued that Esquivel’s actions were deliberate, emphasizing that Idaho law exists specifically to shield minors from adults who pursue them. “At the end of the day, Idaho law protects the 16-year-old from the 45-year-old,” a prosecutor stated during sentencing.
Defense attorneys acknowledged the wrongdoing while noting that Esquivel had begun leading a Bible study for inmates at the Canyon County Jail and had received strong community support. The defense also noted that deportation following his prison term is virtually certain. “It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is going to be deported,” Esquivel’s attorney told the court.
Esquivel himself addressed the court, with many in the gallery visibly emotional. “I am ready, Your Honor, to have the treatment that you consider the best for me in order to never again cause so much pain in anyone,” he said. The presiding judge characterized Esquivel’s behavior as opportunistic rather than predatory.
Zoom Out
The case is part of a broader pattern of adults using dating and social media applications to gain access to minors in Idaho and across the country. A separate Idaho case involving a drunk pilot who crashed his aircraft and received a jail sentence illustrates the range of serious criminal matters keeping Canyon County and neighboring jurisdictions active in the courts this spring.
Idaho prosecutors and law enforcement have increasingly flagged Grindr and similar platforms as avenues through which adults make contact with underage individuals. A related case out of Rigby involved a man charged with raping a 13-year-old boy he allegedly met on the same application, signaling a statewide challenge for investigators.
The legal landscape for those facing serious criminal exposure in Idaho remains demanding, as seen in ongoing legal proceedings tied to the Wilder immigration raid, where deadlines loom for individuals navigating Idaho’s court and immigration systems simultaneously — a circumstance Esquivel’s own attorney acknowledged applies directly to his client.
What’s Next
Esquivel will serve his fixed three-year term before becoming eligible for parole consideration on the indeterminate portion of his sentence. His attorney has indicated that deportation proceedings are expected to follow his incarceration, regardless of when he may be released.
St. Paul’s Catholic Church has not been named as a defendant in the criminal matter. No allegations have been made connecting the church or school directly to the offense. It is unclear whether the Diocese of Boise has taken any additional administrative action regarding the case.
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