Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Utah / Adobe Stock
Salt Lake City Bishop Oscar Solis is “making determinations” regarding the investigation of an allegation filed against a former diocesan priest, the diocese announced in a press release July 28.
According to the release, the diocese received a Dec. 12, 2024, claim of sexual misconduct that involved Heriberto Mejia, a priest who was ministering in the state in the early 1990s and who “was permanently removed from ministry in the Diocese and left Utah in later 1992 for reasons unrelated to sexual misconduct.”
BishopAccountability.org shared The Salt Lake Tribune’s July 28 report that the allegation came from Bill Hambleton, who is a former principal of Madeleine Choir School, a Catholic school in Salt Lake City, and a former seminarian. Hambleton, who is now 51, made the allegation in a letter to Bishop Solis, writing that Rev. Heriberto Castrellion Mejia, who came from Columbia, molested him when he was 16, the article said.
According to the article, Mejia had served at St. Joseph Parish in Ogden, Utah, from March 1990 to August 1991 and St. Andres Church in Payson, Utah, until Oct. 28, 1992, and, according to the diocese’s 2019 independent review, an allegation of sexual abuse against Mejia was reported to the diocese on Aug. 23, 1991.
The Tribune wrote that Hambleton explained that Mejia would invite him to the rectory at St. Joseph’s and routinely force him to give him “very firm hugs,” during which the priest fondled the boy and kissed him on the head and neck. When Hambleton told Mejia he was drawn to the priesthood, Mejia “used this information to manipulate me and coerce me to spend time with him,” according to Hambleton. Mejia asked Hambleton to help him move to Payson and again forced him into hugs and kissed him on the head and neck.
Bishop Solis met with Hambleton on July 4 regarding the allegations and how he believed the Church failed him, according to The Tribune.
According to the release, the diocese reported the allegation to law enforcement and hired two retired law enforcement agents to make an independent investigation.
According to The Tribune, the diocese reported to Payson police in August 2019 that Mejia had “confessed to sexually exploiting two juveniles in 1991” and had since “been deported to Colombia.”
On its website, the diocese includes Mejia’s name in its “Clergy Allegations in the Diocese of Salt Lake City” list and states that his faculties have been removed.
“After the Diocese received the report of the independent investigation it was provided to the Independent Review Board comprised of employees of the diocese and outside professionals (legal, psychological, healthcare, education, and more),” the release said. “Their consultation and review was provided to Bishop Oscar A. Solis on July 16, 2025, and he is in the process of making determinations.”
According to the article, Hambleton, who now lives in California, wants “acknowledgment of what he alleges is the diocese’s failure to protect him, for those involved to face consequences, and for church leaders to apologize publicly.”
Another internal investigation is underway too, according to the release.
“It is important that the Diocese is thorough in its internal investigation and determinations for the sake of truth, justice, and healing,” the release said. “The Diocese has no further comment at this time. The Diocese remains committed to ensuring the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults and providing pastoral outreach to victims and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy.”
The diocese asks anyone who has more information about the allegation or other sexual abuse of a minor to contact its Office of Safe Environment and the Salt Lake City Police Department.
The diocese encouraged people to continue to pray for victims of sexual abuse and their families.