Fr. John M. Capparelli

Capparelli allegedly had boys wrestle in skimpy bathing suits and photographed them. He also sold videos on the internet. Accused in a 7/2011 lawsuit of the sexual abuse of a boy. The suit names the Boy Scouts and Archdiocese. Capparelli left the active priesthood in the mid-1980s. His privileges were removed 1992 and he was sent to treatment. He taught high school in Newark public schools for 20 years. At least 24 other men came forward with similar complaints. In 11/2011 Capparelli was given a non-teaching job. Another lawsuit was filed in 12/2011. Both settled in 2012. Capparelli surrendered his public schools teaching license in 6/2013. His appearance at an annual Family Festival at Our Lady of the Valley parish resulted in the suspension without privileges of the pastor, Chris Di Lella, a long-time friend.  Capparelli was laicized, possibly in 3/2014. Included on the Newark archdiocese’s list 2/13/2019. Died 3/6/2019 of a gunshot wound at his home in NV. A homicide investigation was initiated. Capparelli reportedly had a history of hiring male prostitutes. The alleged shooter had answered Capparelli’s ad for male wrestlers. New suit(s) filed in 7/2020 claim abuse in the 1980s. By 11/2021 Capparelli had been accused in 20 lawsuits.