Fr. Joseph John Henn

Order: SDS
Ordained: 1978
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Diocese of Phoenix AZ

Report in 1983 to the Salvatorians that Henn had sexually abused a boy, age 14, and that he had abused another boy who went on to die by suicide. Sent to work at an all-girls school in Sacramento CA. Sent for evaluation and treatment three times. Abused in AZ, CA and WI. Accused in a civil suit filed in 6/2003. Indicted by grand jury in 7/2003 on 13 counts of molestation of three boys 1979-1981. Found working in Rome and arrested in 7/2005. Fought extradition while living under house arrest in Rome. Official extradition ordered in 7/2006, but Henn fled just prior to the announcement, whereabouts unknown. Civil suit settled for $50K in 2006. Expelled from the Salvatorians and removed from the priesthood in 2006. Arrested in Italy 5/28/2019 after trying to use his expired U.S. passport to pick up medicine, per his attorney. Italian police said he was arrested after requesting help at an immigrant assistance center using a false name. Extradited to AZ, arraigned 6/14/2019 on 13 charges of child sex abuse. Suit filed in 2/2020. Pleaded guilty in 2021. Reportedly in 8/2023, Henn is deceased.


Return to main database page. See abbreviations and posting policy. Send corrections.

Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.