List of Clergy Abusers in the Diocese of Jefferson City
Behan, Hugh
Ordained: 1964
In 1993, Island-native Father Hugh Behan faced allegations that he sexually molested an underage girl in 1983. At the time of the alleged assault, the victim was thirteen years old. A separate female victim filed allegations against Reverend Behan’s sexual misconduct that occurred when she was eighteen years old. However, Church officials allowed the priest to remain in his position until 1999 when a new Jefferson City Diocese Bishop placed Father Behan on administrative leave. Three years later, Reverend Behan was working as a greeter in Florida at Disney World. Some parishioners visiting Disney from Missouri identified the priest and reported his whereabouts to the Diocese. When officials from the Diocese notified Disney, the company immediately fired Reverend Behan. However, Behan told others that he resigned from his position from the Church due to health reasons. His name remained on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list.
Current Status: Faced accusations of sexual misconduct
Brooke, Geoffrey A.
Ordained: 2015
In March 2019, Church officials placed Father Geoffrey A. Brooke on administrative leave after allegations arose that he violated the boundaries with minors. At the time of the alleged assault, he worked at a Jefferson City school and as the associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish. In March 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City Bishop McKnight wrote a letter to the congregation and school community and informed them of Reverend Brooke’s inappropriate behavior. The Diocese’s Review Board initiated an investigation into the allegations. Before Father Brooke was ordained to the Roman Catholic Church, he was assigned a position at the Catholic News Service in Washington, DC. He was first assigned to the Jefferson City Diocese at the Sacred Heart Parish and St. Patrick’s Church in Sedalia. He was also assigned to work at the University of Missouri Newman Center.
Current Status: Faced accusations of sexual misconduct
Buescher, David G.
Ordained: 1971
Father David G. Buescher faced allegations of sexual abuse before his death in 2013. Between 1971 and 1976, he worked at the Hannibal, MO St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary and was a Faculty Member and Spiritual Director who taught liturgy, speech, music, and religion. Documents reveal that from 1985 until 1988, he served the Roman Catholic Church on a “special assignment.” His name appears on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list.
Current Status: Died: 2013
Clohessy, Kevin
Ordained: 1985
In 1993, a Northeast Missouri State University student alleged that Father Kevin Clohessy had sexually molested him while the priest was assigned to the Student Center. The Church conducted an internal investigation concerning the accusation involving one victim. The results of the investigation substantiated the allegation. As a result, Reverend Father Kevin Clohessy was removed from his active priesthood and relocated to a treatment center. In 1995, the Church reassigned Father Clohessy to a new parish. Five years later, the Reverend took a voluntary leave of absence from his position. By 2003, a lawsuit alleged that Father Kevin Clohessy and another priest had sexually molested an underage boy. The lawsuit claims that Reverend Clohessy sexually molested the child between 1984 and 1993.
Current Status: Laicized – Removed from the priesthood by Vatican
Collins, Jude
Ordained: ?
Brother Jude Collins faced allegations of sexual misconduct. During brother Collins’ career, he served as a member of the Congregation of Presentation Brothers. His name appears on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City’s list.
Current Status: Died: 2000
Daly, Manus
Ordained: 1965
In March 2002, the Roman Catholic Church removed Father Manus Daly from active ministry when past allegations of sexual misconduct arose. The alleged molestation involved a St. Thomas Aquinas seminarian student when the priest was the Dean of Students. Allegedly, Father Daly attempted to seduce the boy while on a trip to Belleville. In 1996, the adult male complained to Church officials at the Diocese of Jefferson City. In response, the Church settled the case for $125,000 in 1996. Father Daly’s name appears on the 2018 Jefferson City Diocese list.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
DeAngelis, John B.
Ordained: 1944
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father John B. DeAngelis with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim.
Current Status: Died: 1989
Degnan, John F.
Ordained: 1951
In 2001, Father John F. Degnan faced allegations of sexually molesting an underage male in the 1960s. In 2002 and 2005, additional allegations of sexual misconduct arose. In all, there were from seventeen to up to fifty alleged sexual abuse survivors associated with Degnan. In 2005, the Diocese of Jefferson City settled a claim for $60,000 involving Reverend Degnan’s inappropriate sexual activity with one victim. Near the end of Father Degnan ‘s life, Church officials ordered him to live a Missouri residential treatment center under supervision. During his career, he was assigned to the Westphalia, MO St. Joseph Parish as its pastor, between 1961 and 1962, and again between 1971 and 1974. Between 1982 and 1987, he was assigned to the Montgomery City, MO Immaculate Conception Parish. He also worked at churches in Pilot Grove, Gravois Mills, Linn, Boonville, Dixon, Saint Elizabeth, Versailles, and Chouteau Springs. Degnan’s name appears on the 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list.
Current Status: Died: 2010
Dorn, Louis E.
Ordained: 1972
In 2006, Church officials of the Diocese of Jefferson City placed Father Louis E. Dorn on leave of absence after allegations arose that the priest sexually assaulted an innocent victim several years ago. Church documents reveal no other details. However, an article dated December 2006 revealed that the archdiocese cleared Reverend Dorn of any wrongdoing involving inappropriate sexual contact and allowed him to return to active duty. The Roman Catholic Review Board found that one allegation of sexual misconduct could not be substantiated.
Current Status: Placed on leave in 2006
Doyle, Brendan
Ordained: 1963
In November 2011, Church officials for the Diocese of Jefferson City temporarily placed Father Brendan Doyle on a leave of absence while he was assigned at the Helias High School. The Church stated that a computer technician found “inappropriate images” on the Reverend’s computer that was removed from his possession for further examination. As of December 2011, Reverend Doyle remained in residence at the Immaculate Conception Parish. However, he relinquished his duties as the Church’s Associate Pastor. In December 2011, a “whistleblower” sent the SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Organization a letter. The document acknowledged that Church officials at the Diocese of Jefferson City knew of the priest’s inappropriate sexual activity in 2008. By March 2011, the Jefferson City Diocese Review Board recommended that the priest remains under continued supervision. Father Doyle’s name appears on the January 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list.
Current Status: Faced accusations of sexual misconduct
Duesdieker, Robert W.
Ordained: 1980
In December 2016, Church officials placed Father Robert W. Duesdieker on administrative leave after allegations arose of inappropriate sexual conduct involving minors more than two decades before. An investigation was conducted by local law enforcement and the Diocese of Jefferson City. The alleged sexual abuse incidents allegedly happened at the time that Reverend Duesdieker worked at the Owensville, MO Immaculate Conception Parish. Duesdieker denied the accusations. However, the Jefferson City Diocese Review Board found the allegations against Father Duesdieker to be credible. The priest’s name is added to the 2018 Jefferson City Diocese list.
Current Status: Placed on leave in December 2016
Duggan, Thomas
Ordained: 1947
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father Thomas Duggan with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim.
Current Status: Died: 2009
Faletti, Stephen L.
Ordained: 1983
In 2002, before being fired by the Diocese of Jefferson City, a youth worker reported the complaint about Father Stephen L. Faletti and another priest’s inappropriate sexual behavior. At that time in 1991, the Reverend was at a high school seminary. Records dated in the mid-1990s revealed that Church officials removed the priest from active priesthood when credible allegations arose that he sexually molested minors. The 2002 Catholic directory revealed that the Roman Catholic Church placed Father Faletti on a leave of absence. Peoria, Illinois-native Reverend Faletti was ordained for the Jefferson City Diocese in 1983. His name appears on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City List.
Current Status: Died: 2017
Fischer, John H.
Ordained: 1964
A news article dated March 2002 revealed that in 1996, an alleged sexual assault survivor accused Father John H. Fischer of sexual molestation occurring at the Catholic school. The alleged sexual abuse occurred when the victim was eleven years old. At that time, Reverend Fischer kissed the victim on the lips. The victim states that the alleged sexual abuse involving the priest lasted for two years. The Diocese of Jefferson City negotiated a $125,000 out of court settlement to resolve the case against Father Fischer, Father Manis Daly, and Reverend Anthony J O’Connell, who would later become a Bishop. In 1993, Church officials removed Reverend Fischer from active priesthood when allegations arose that he sexually assaulted other children. His name appears on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
Greene, Donal
Ordained: ?
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father Donal Greene with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim.
Current Status: Deceased
Lahr, Melvin
Ordained: 1972
In December 2018, the Diocese of Jefferson City added the name of Father Melvin Lahr to their list of religious leaders with credible accusations of sexual misconduct.
Current Status: Accused of sexual misconduct
Long, John
Ordained: 1961
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father John Long with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim. Church officials removed Reverend Long from active ministry.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
Lucas, Eric
Ordained: ?
Brother Eric Lucas’ name appears on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list of religious leaders with credible accusations of sexual misconduct. Church officials removed the member of the Congregation of the Presentation Brothers from active ministry.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
McMyler, Patrick
Ordained: 1964
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father Patrick McMyler with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim.
Current Status: Died: 1985
McNally, James P.
Ordained: 1980
In 1986, Father James P. McNally was a St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary graduate (class of 1980) staff member working at the seminary. That year, he befriended a sixteen-year-old student and became the child’s family friend. Reverend McNally faced accusations that he sexually assaulted the male student at church rectories and on trips. In 1996, the alleged sexual abuse survivor told Diocese of Jefferson City Bishop McAuliffe about the priest’s inappropriate sexual conduct. The Bishop sent Father McNally for treatment. It was not until a news article was published in 2004 that the public became aware of the priest’s inappropriate behavior. Afterward, the Reverend left the priesthood, Vatican laicized (defrocked – removed from the priesthood) McNally, and he got married. Reverend McNally’s name appears on the November 2018 Diocese list.
Current Status: Laicized – Removed from the priesthood by Vatican
Mohan, James J.
Ordained: 1959
Ireland-native Father James J. Mohan faced accusations of sexually assaulting at least two underage males. Church officials from the Diocese of Jefferson City suddenly removed Reverend Mohan from his last assignment at the Vienna, M0 Visitation Parish. Some reports indicated that law enforcement had issued his arrest warrant. Reportedly, Church officials from the Jefferson City Diocese quickly reassigned him in the middle of the night from his parish to ensure he was on a plane flying to England. A review of Church records from the 1980s stated he was working outside of the Diocese. His name appears on the November 2018 Jefferson City Diocese list.
Current Status: Died: 1990
Mulokozi, Deusdedit
Ordained: 2003
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father Deusdedit Mulokozi with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim. The Church conducted an internal investigation concerning the accusation involving one victim. The results of the investigation substantiated the allegation. In May 2015, a fifteen-year-old female reported to local law enforcement that Reverend Mulokozi gave her a “dirty hug” after she attended a counseling session at Sacred Heart Parish. An investigation ensued, and the detectives requested that the District Attorney’s Office charge Father Mulokozi with third-degree assault. However, the local prosecutor did not pursue the case. The Diocese of Jefferson City Review Board found that the priest had violated his boundaries. The Church sent Father Mulokozi for evaluation at the Houston, Liberty Treatment Center. The Jefferson City Diocese expelled Reverend Mulokozi from the ministry. The Tanzania-born priest’s Order (Precious Blood) allowed him to maintain active in ministry in Tanzania, where, as of February 2019, he was serving the congregation in a Numbyaniu, Kenya Parish. Known as Father Deo, Mulokozi belonged to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. In 2014, he arrived in Missouri on assignment for the Kansas City Province. From 2014 until 2015, he was assigned to the Bahner, MO St. John the Evangelist Parish, Sedalia, MO St. Patrick’s Church, and Sacred Heart Parish.
Current Status: Accused of sexual misconduct
Musholt, Silas
Ordained: 1951
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Franciscan Father Silas Musholt with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim.
Current Status: Died: 1999
Nixon, Dominic
Ordained: ?
Brother Dominic Nixon’s name appears on the November 2018 Jefferson City Diocese’s list involving clergy members with credible allegations of sexual misconduct. Dominic Nixon is a member of the Congregation of Presentation Brothers. Church notes revealed that officials removed brother Dominic Nixon from active ministry within the diocese of Jefferson City.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
O’Connell (Bp), Anthony J.
Ordained: 1963
In March 2002, Bishop Anthony J. O’Connel resigned from his position in the Diocese of Jefferson City after he had admitted to inappropriate sexual behavior involving children in Missouri decades before. In 2004, the Roman Catholic Church settled two claims involving Bishop O’Connel for $5000 each. O’Connel participated in the payment, as did the Diocese of Jefferson City. Numerous other claims were filed throughout Missouri involving Bishop O’Connel. During his career, he served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville between 1988 and 1998 and as Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach between 1998 and 2002. In May 2012, new accusers came forward, claiming they had been sexually assaulted by Bishop O’Connel. The accusations came just after the Bishop died in May 2012. His name appears on the November 2018 Jefferson City Diocese’s list. In September 2019, a lawsuit was filed against the Roman Catholic Church claiming that O’Connel and Reverend Xavier Mankle sexually assaulted an underage minor in the 1990s. That case was settled out of court in December 2019. He is also named on the March 2020 Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee list.
Current Status: Named in a civil lawsuit
Patterson, Charles H.
Ordained: 1951
Father Charles H. Patterson faced allegations of sexually abusing a minor. However, church records do not provide any other details of when and where the alleged assault occurred. During Reverend Patterson’s career, he served as the Hannibal, MO St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary Rector from 1957 until the early 1960s. He was assigned to many different positions in the Roman Catholic Church at the Diocese of Jefferson City. Father Pattison retired from the priesthood in 2005 and died five years later at the age of eighty-six.
Current Status: Died: 2010
Pool, Gary W.
Ordained: 1982
In 2003, Father Gary W. Pool’s name appears in a filed civil lawsuit alleging that the Reverend (formerly a deacon) sexually assaulted an innocent male victim between 1979 and 1984. The alleged sexual abuse survivor stated that he sought counseling through another priest who sexually assaulted him between 1984 and 1993. Father Pool denied the accusations. By 1987, Reverend Pool took a leave of absence from his priestly duties. In 1993, the Vatican laicized (defrocked – removed from the priesthood) Pool and later married. His name is found on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list.
Current Status: Laicized – Removed from the priesthood by Vatican
Schlachter, Eric A.
Ordained: 1981
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father Eric A. Schlachter with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim. Church officials removed the Reverend from active ministry.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
Schutty, John Joseph
Ordained: 1983
In April 2006, Church officials at the Diocese of Jefferson City placed Father John Joseph Schutty on administrative leave after receiving accusations of his sexual misconduct involving a child several years before. In December 2006, the Diocese announced the results of the Church -related Review Board that found the accusations were credible. Officials then removed Reverend Father John Joseph Schutty as pastor at a local church. The priest’s name appears on the November 2018 Jefferson City Diocese list.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
Scobee, Robert G.
Ordained: 1937
During Father Robert G. Scobee career, he faced allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct involving an innocent victim. Between 1970 and 1972, Church officials from the Diocese of Jefferson City placed Reverend Scobee on administrative leave before sending him for treatment at the Jemez Springs, NM Servants of the Paraclete facility. Between 1973 and 1974, the Roman Catholic church reassigned Father Scobee to a new parish. In 1975, he had no assignments until his retirement in 1976. The priest died in 1979.
Current Status: Died: 1979
Seifner, Thomas
Ordained: 1992
Starting in July 2009, Church officials at the Diocese of Jefferson City assigned Father Thomas Seifner as pastor of different parishes in Bonnots Mill and Loose Creek, MO. In December of that year, allegations arose that he had engaged in “inappropriate electronic communication” with a male child five years before. The Jefferson City Diocese Review Board found the accusations of his sexual misconduct involving a minor to be accurate. The priest’s name appears on the November 2018 Jefferson City Diocese list.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
Smyth, Sean J.
Ordained: 1959
In the late 1990s, the Diocese of Jefferson City obtain reports that Monsignor Gregory Higley knew that Father Sean J. Smyth sexually molested an underage minor around 1959. At the time of the alleged assault, the female victim was five years old. Reverend Smyth’s name appears on the November 2018 Jefferson City Diocese list.
Current Status: Died: 1990
Tatro, Timothy
Ordained: 1999
In 2019, the Diocese of Jefferson City publicly named Father Timothy Tatro with credible allegations of sexual misconduct involving an innocent victim. Church officials removed the Reverend from active ministry.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
Wallace, Donald L.
Ordained: 1962
In 1997, the parents of for victims accused Father Donald L. Wallace of sexual “boundary violations” due to his inappropriate activities. After the allegations raised by the four boys, Church officials sent Reverend Wallace for treatment before his reassignment in 1998 to minister in the hospital. At that time, the Reverend remained under supervision. In 2000, the Church reassigned Reverend Wallace to a new parish until his retirement two years later. The priest chose not to minister to the congregation that year to avoid “further evaluation.” Father Wallace’s name appears on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list with notations that he had been removed from active ministry.
Current Status: Removed from active ministry
Whiteley, John J.
Ordained: 1967
In 1991, Father John J. Whiteley sexually assaulted an innocent victim between 1969 and 1973. At the time of the alleged sexual abuse, the boy was about twelve years of age. The alleged sexual abuse survivor states that Reverend Whiteley touched his genitals and laid on top of him during trips that were sometimes out of the state of Missouri. Allegedly, he sexually molested others, including the victim’s brother. The two brothers were later accused of sexually assaulting others. Beginning in 1983, Father Whiteley worked as a college chaplain. By 1990, he was an army reserve chaplain, and a year later, he had a chancery job. In 1992, he resigned from his position and disappeared. That same year, after a Missouri Supreme Court decision, the case was dismissed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations law. Reportedly, Father Whiteley was last known to be living in Naples, Florida, but might have relocated to the Miami area. In August 2015, the Diocese of Jefferson City settled the case involving the first victim for $40,000. That sexual abuse survivor asked Church officials to post on the Church’s website the names of religious leaders with proven, admitted, and credible accusations of child sexual assault in the parish. The victim hoping the posting the names would warn Catholics in Florida about Reverend Whiteley. However, the Diocese failed to follow up on the victim’s request. As of November 2018, the Reverend had not been laicized (removed from the priesthood). His name appears on the November 2018 Diocese of Jefferson City list.
Current Status: Laicized – Removed from the priesthood by Vatican
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