FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2019
Contact: Matt Baca (505) 270-7148
Albuquerque, NM – Thursday afternoon, a Santa Fe grand jury returned an indictment against
Marvin Archuleta, a former Catholic priest at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, New Mexico in
the 1970s and 1980s, finding probable cause to believe Archuleta committed two first-degree
felonies, criminal sexual penetration of a child under thirteen and kidnapping.
“We are prepared to move forward and to seek justice at trial for these unspeakable acts,” said
Attorney General Hector Balderas.
Archuleta will be tried on charges of criminal sexual penetration of a child under 13 and
kidnapping and faces more than 30 years if convicted. At a preventative detention hearing this
afternoon, a judge set conditions of release for Archuleta. Those conditions include constant GPS
monitoring, and being banned from being around children. Archuleta will also be required to turn
in his passport. Trial will be scheduled at at later date