was a Mormon church member in Maricopa County, Arizona; allegedly admitted to his bishop that he had sexually touched a child; charged in two cases in 2006 with sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of molestation of a child, all class two felonies; one case was dismissed in 2006 without prejudice; in the other, pleaded guilty to two reduced charges of child abuse

Case report

This case arose in 2005 in Arizona.

Manuel Archibeque was a Mormon church member in Arizona. According to court documents, he admitted to his LDS bishop that he had sexually abused a child. The bishop reportedly urged Archibeque to turn himself in to police, but Archibeque did not.

Archibeque was charged with sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of molestation of a child, all class two felonies.

The substance of Archibeque’s communication with his bishop was determined in court to fall under clergy-penitent privilege.

One case (S-0700-CR-2006008090) was dismissed in 2006 without prejudice. In the other (CR2006-011305-001), Archibeque pleaded guilty to two reduced charges of child abuse.

Case facts

Case information sources

  1. State v. Archibeque - Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Cause No. CR2006-011305-001DT - Affirmed
    view source details | 15 Dec 2009 | Justia
  2. Case #S-0700-CR-2006008090 - Manuel Joseph Archibeque
    view source details | 17 Jan 2024 | Arizona Judicial Branch

Case information source details

  • State v. Archibeque - Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Cause No. CR2006-011305-001DT - Affirmed
    Publisher: Justia
    Date: 15 Dec 2009
    Archive.org
    Source type: Court record

    [FLOODLIT note: this is only a brief excerpt]

    The State of Arizona appeals the trial court’s order suppressing Manuel Archibeque’s confession made to a clergyman
    2within the meaning of Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 13-4062(3) (Supp. 2009). For the reasons that follow, we conclude that Archibeque’s statements to his Bishop are protected by the clergy-penitent privilege; the presence of Archibeque’s wife during the confession does not vitiate this privilege; and Archibeque’s disclosures to his wife made prior to his confession to the clergyman do not constitute a waiver of the privilege. We therefore affirm the trial court’s ruling.

  • view all information sources
    Case #S-0700-CR-2006008090 - Manuel Joseph Archibeque
    Publisher: Arizona Judicial Branch
    Date: 17 Jan 2024
    Archive.org
    Source type: Court record

    [date accessed]

    FLOODLIT has obtained copies of court documents in this case.

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