Sex Abuse Suit Alleges Conspiracy on Part of Stockton Diocese

News 10
September 11, 2012

http://eastsouthstockton.news10.net/news/news/104463-sex-abuse-suit-alleges-conspiracy-part-stockton-diocese


A 22-year-old former altar boy has filed a civil complaint against the Diocese of Stockton, charging the diocese knew a now-defrocked priest had been the subject of other molestation allegations and yet it still placed the priest in a position of interaction with minors as pastor of St. Andrew's Parish in San Andreas.

The complaint accuses the diocese, ex-pastor Father Michael Kelly, Bishop Steven Blaire and Monsignor Richard Ryan of 10 charges, including sexual battery, fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The complaint alleges the diocese ignored a number of sexual misconduct allegations against Kelly as well as a 1999 psychological evaluation in which a licensed psychologist recommended the pastor "not minister to children alone or families in which there are children" because of "underlying or latent pedophilic elements".

The complainant claims Kelly came to his home unannounced in 2000 when his parents weren't home and molested him in his bedroom.

Kelly was found liable in April of three sexual abuse charges in another case involving a student at Stockton's Cathedral of the Annunciation in the mid-1980s where he served. Kelly, most recently assigned to St. Joachim's Catholic Church in Lockeford, fled to Ireland before he was set to testify in the second phase of the same case alleging the diocese knew Kelly's history of sexual misconduct allegations. The diocese reached a $3.75 million settlement with the victim.