The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office will not file charges against Rev. Raul Diaz stemming from reports made in mid-May to Dinuba Police.
Diaz, who is originally from McFarland and a member of the famous McFarland High School cross country team, was the subject of an anonymous report of sexual misconduct.
Until the allegations forced a Diocese-initiated suspension from his parish, Diaz was the pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Dinuba.
The tipster told police Diaz had recently engaged in alleged inappropriate touching of two minors – aged 9 and 11.
Dinuba police submitted the allegations to the Tulare County District Attorney for charging.
Daniel Underwood, Chief Deputy District Attorney, declined to elaborate to The Bakersfield Californian why the office decided against filing charges against Diaz.
The statute of limitations, however, was not a factor in the decision.
“From our perspective, there was enough for us to file it with the D.A.’s office, but it was the D.A.’s opinion that it was not enough to corroborate and file charges,” Dinuba Detective Sgt. Eric Trevino told The Californian.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno is continuing its internal investigation into Diaz. He remains on suspension.
