BOISE, Idaho — A Catholic priest at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nampa was arrested and charged with sexual battery of a minor, a Nampa Police Department spokesperson confirmed with KTVB Wednesday.

Robert Mendez Esquivel, 45, was booked into the Canyon County Jail on a charge of Sexual battery of a minor child sixteen or seventeen years of age .

According to St. Paul's Catholic Church's website, Mendez serves as an associate pastor and is known as "Father Toto." He joined St. Paul's Parish in 2022.

The Diocese of Boise's website shows Mendez is involved with ministries called "Courage and Encourage," which are described as supporting people with same-sex attraction who want to live according to Catholic teaching on sexuality and homosexuality.

Nampa Police said the investigatio

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