Ricardo Reyes Mata, 34, of Dallas, Texas, United States is a Catholic priest. He is accused of inappropriately touching two girls aged 17 and 10 while visiting them in a residence in Garland, Texas.
After becoming aware of the allegations, the Catholic Diocese of Dallas immediately filed a report with Child Protective Services and law enforcement. Reyes was also removed from all public ministry.
Who is Ricardo Reyes Mata?
Born in Mexico, Reyes was brought to the U.S. by his parents in 1994. He is the oldest of nine siblings, the youngest of which was born in 2018.
Reyes grew up in Oak Cliff, Dallas. He was studying to be a math teacher before he was in the seminary from 2010 to 2021.
On June 4, 2022, Reyes was ordained. Shortly after, he was assigned to St. Jude Parish in Allen, Texas for his first assignment as a priest.
Later, Reyes served as chaplain for Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas. In 2023, he was appointed parochial vicar of the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Dallas.
On May 6, 2024, the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center conducted forensic interviews with the children Reyes allegedly inappropriately touched. Later that day, Reyes was arrested and charged with two counts of indecency with a child.
Bonds for Reyes were set at $100,000 and $75,000. He was booked into the Garland Detention Center in Garland.
CONAN Daily 