Fr. Gerardo Beltran Rico – Diocese of Sacramento

Fr. Gerardo Beltran Rico

Diocese of Sacramento

Ordained: 1982

Laicized: 2008 

Assigned as follows:

• 1982-1988: St. Dominic Parish (Orland, CA)
• 1988-1989: Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament  (Sacramento, CA)
• 1989-1991: St. Joseph Parish (Sacramento, CA)
• 1991: St. Anthony Parish (Winters, CA)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Gerardo Beltran Rico:

According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, Fr. Gerardo Beltran Rico has received at least 16 allegations of sexual misconduct to minors while working in the diocese. He was issued a warrant for arrest in 1992 for the alleged abuse of 4 young girls throughout Sacramento. He fled to Mexico before he would be served and became an active priest there. 

According to media reports, reports surfaced in 2007 that Mexican villagers wanted him removed because of the rumors surrounding Gerardo and teen girls for many years. 

Another accuser came forward in February of 2007 and filed a lawsuit against Beltran Rico the next month. According to media reports, the diocese then turned around and sued the accuser in August of 2007. Bp. Wiegand and the diocese said that the accuser had no right to sue them and that he had missed his opportunity.

Beltran Rico was arrested in Mexico in March of 2008. He was then released in August before he could be extradited. Another victim came forward shortly after in April of 2008. His official laicization was announced later that year. Many more allegations have surfaced and his name now appears on the Diocese of Sacramento list as of April 30th, 2019. The list includes 12 female accusers and 3 males, all underage at the time of the alleged abuse.

Beltran Rico still remains a fugitive as of 2019 and is wanted by the FBI. 

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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.