Convicted sex offender who posed as monk charged in California on new molestation allegations

Police: Fake friar charged in CA with molestation

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A convicted sex offender who posed as a monk to gain the confidence of his victims has been charged in California with molesting another teenage boy.

The San Mateo County district attorney’s office says Anthony Thomas Falco was charged Tuesday with 19 counts of child molestation.

The 73-year-old Falco was arrested last week in Daly City after police received an anonymous tip.

Nearly a decade ago, Falco was convicted of molesting two teenage boys while posing as a Franciscan monk. He admitted molesting one of the boys while they were on a religious pilgrimage to Bosnia.

He was released from prison in 2003.

Falco is being held in San Mateo County Jail on $1.6 million bail. He is due back in court March 2 to enter a plea.

Information from: Santa Cruz Sentinel, www.santacruzsentinel.com