Dallas priest arrested, charged with indecency with children, Garland police say

A Dallas priest was arrested after he was accused of having inappropriate contact with two children, Garland police said in a news release Tuesday.

Authorities arrested 34-year-old Ricardo Reyes Mata on Monday. A priest with the Catholic Diocese in Dallas, he is charged with two felony counts of indecency with a child.

Reyes Mata was arrested based on allegations of inappropriate contact with the minors, which happened during a visit at a home in Garland, police said.

Detectives are communicating with the Diocese of Dallas about the case.

Diocese of Dallas officials filed a report with Child Protective Services and law enforcement after learning about the allegation last week, according to a Diocese spokesperson. Reyes Mata was immediately removed from public ministry, the Diocese told the Star-Telegram.

“We are grateful for law enforcement’s thorough response,” said Bishop Edward J. Burns of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. “Let us come together in prayer, respecting the dignity of all involved, seeking strength and guidance from our faith during this challenging time.”

No inappropriate contact was reported to have happened on diocesan property, according to the spokesperson.

“We take all allegations of misconduct seriously. At the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, the safety and well-being of everyone is of paramount importance,” the Diocese said in a statement.

Reyes Mata is being held at the Garland Detention Center on $175,000 bond.

Police and diocese officials are asking anyone with information about the investigation or other incidents to contact Garland police at 972-485-4840.

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