A former Catholic clergyman has acknowledged committing acts of sexual misconduct involving a child he encountered during his pastoral responsibilities.
At the age of 68, Jamie Adolfo Gonzalez-Farias pleaded guilty to a federal charge of transporting a minor with the intention of engaging in criminal sexual activity, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina this week.
Evidence presented in court reveals that the individual known as “Father Gonzalez” bestowed gifts and attention upon an 11-year-old boy before embarking on a beach vacation to Florida in November 2020, according to a press release. During this trip, he made an attempted sexual assault on the child, engaged in other forms of sexually inappropriate behavior, and exposed the child to pornography, according to statements by FBI officials.
In that same month, the parents of the boy expressed their concerns to Catholic authorities regarding an inappropriate relationship. Subsequently, the priest was suspended from duties and the incident was reported to a local sheriff’s office.
Gonzales-Farias now faces a potential sentence ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Authorities are urging individuals with information regarding potential additional victims to contact the FBI.
