Ordination: 1970

Notes: At least two survivors have come forward alleging sexual abuse by Fr. Gerald J. Plesetz between approximately 1973 and 1977. Fr. Plesetz was laicized in 1978. In 2002, he was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s while he worked at St. Edward in Dana Point. The charges were later dropped. At least one civil suit has been filed against him. Fr. Plesetz was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. Records produced by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reflect that in 2002, an adult woman reported to the Archdiocese that when she was a 16-year-old student at Mater Dei High School and a parishioner at St. Edward’s Parish in Dana Point, she became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter in 1975 and that Fr. Plesetz was the father. As of 1982, Fr. Plesetz is believed to have been living in Orange, California. Fr. Plesetz’s current whereabouts and whether he has access to children are unknown.

Assignments:

1971-1972 St. Rose of Lima, Maywood, CA

1973-1976 St. Edward Church, Dana Point, CA

1976 St. Bridget, Van Nuys, CA

1977 St. Cecilia Church, Tustin, CA

1978 Inactive Leave; Laicized

1979-2018 Unknown