Priest’s Sex-Abuse Charges Dismissed

A judge Wednesday dismissed the charges against a longtime Inland Empire priest accused of molesting two boys in the 1960s. It is the first San Bernardino County case involving a cleric to be dismissed following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the prosecution of decades-old sex-abuse allegations in California.

San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Donna Garza dropped 12 counts of sexual abuse charges against Msgr. Peter Hernandez Luque, 68, as he stood in the courtroom.

The cleric’s case is one of many in Southern California that has been dropped in light of the high court’s decision, which overturned a portion of a California law that allowed prosecution of certain sexual-offense cases even if the statute of limitations had expired. Hundreds statewide also may be thrown out as prosecutors continue to review as many as 800 cases.

“It had to be done,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Kurt Rowley said after the dismissal of Luque’s case. “We felt like we had a good case. We’re always disappointed when we can’t do justice and help victims.”

Luque, who served as pastor at churches in San Bernardino, Riverside, Corona and Colton, was charged with sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy in 1966 in San Bernardino. He faced 10 additional charges of molesting a teenage boy between Feb. 11, 1967, and Feb. 10, 1969, in Colton.

Luque resigned March 1 as pastor of St. Edward Catholic Church in Corona.

Luque, a Colton native who was ordained in 1962, left the courthouse without making any comment. His lawyer, Steven Harmon, said his client was relieved that the case against him was over.

Still, “it was a bittersweet moment,” Harmon said, adding that the prosecutors’ case against Luque was weak. “He will not have a chance to show to the world that he’s completely innocent of those charges.”

As for Luque’s future in the ministry, Harmon said the priest should be able to resume his former pastoral duties.

Luque remains on administrative leave, and the dismissal does not change his status with the Diocese of San Bernardino, said the Rev. Howard Lincoln, spokesman of the diocese that oversees San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

“Any future assignments will require the permission and approval of Bishop Gerald Barnes,” said Lincoln, who did not provide further details.

Despite the dismissal of the criminal case, Luque could still wind up in court to face allegations of molestation.

One of the alleged victims plans to file a civil lawsuit against the priest, the Diocese of San Bernardino and the San Salvador Catholic Church in Colton, where the alleged abuse took place, said Cheryl Buchanan, a Beverly Hills attorney representing the victim.

In a statement, the sister of one of the boys Luque was accused of molesting questioned the validity of the high court’s ruling.

“My brother is damaged whether it happened in the ‘60s and [he] lives to 2020, he is still damaged. Where is his justice?” said Susan, who asked that she be identified by her first name.