DUBUQUE (IA)
KWWL-TV, NBC-7 [Waterloo IA]
May 8, 2024
By Austin Ellis
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWWL) — A former Dubuque priest charged with 5 counts of second-degree sexual abuse is expected to make his initial appearance in court in Dubuque next week.
Leo Riley was arrested in Florida and was charged with 5 counts of sex abuse.
Father Leo Riley is accused of sexually abusing young boys in the mid-1980s during his time with the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Riley moved to Florida in 2002.
Last month, Riley was taken into custody in Florida. He bonded out of the Charlotte County Jail on the condition that he face the charges in Iowa.
He’s expected to make his first court appearance in Dubuque on Monday, May 13.
A new criminal complaint details the alleged abuse from Riley from multiple victims who have come forward. The complaint is embedded below. Some of the accounts may be disturbing to some readers.
[See the criminal complaint.]
Riley faces two counts of abuse from one victim, two counts from another victim, and one count for a third victim.
Dubuque Archbishop Thomas Zinkula issued a statement last month, saying in part, “My heart aches for each victim of sexual abuse and for their family. I am truly sorry when a member of the clergy hurts a child in such a terrible way instead of providing them with the proper love and guidance that each child inherently deserves. I am hopeful that this week’s events will bring about justice and healing.”
Austin Ellis
Austin started his career with KWWL in March 2022. He serves as a Digital Content Producer where he leads curation of content for the website and social media platforms.