Roger Scalice, a 75-year-old pastor in Chico, pleaded guilty to child molestation charges Thursday after being arrested in October.

A press release issued by Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Scalice confessed to molesting the victim, who was under the age of 14.

The investigation began ” after the Chico Police Department received a report that Scalice had inappropriately touched a minor child with whom he had access for over a year.”

Scalice was ultimately charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child and remains in the Butte County Jail. He will appear in court again on Jan. 8, 2026 for a mental evaluation.

“Scalice faces up to 16 years in state prison on his plea,” Ramsey said. “Procedurally, the judge appointed a doctor to conduct a mental evaluation before the sent

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