Fr. Joseph D. Ross

Ordained: 1969
Status: Guilty plea

Diocese: Archdiocese of St. Louis MO

Pleaded guilty in 1988 to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy in 12/1986. Sentenced to two years probation and treatment. Admitted then that he had been accused of molesting a youth in the 1970s, and had been arrested for propositioning a police officer and public indecency. Allowed to return to work. Removed in 3/2002. A civil lawsuit filed in 11/2002 alleged abuse of a 14-year-old boy in 1977. Laicization announced in 8/2002. Arrested in 9/2008 on new charges from 2000. Charges dropped in 8/2010. Living in AR. A lawsuit was filed in 10/2011 claiming abuse of a girl. It settled 7/06/14 under confidential terms. Ross was possibly living in St. Charles, MO as of 7/15/2014. Included on the Archdiocese’s 7/26/2019 list of credibly accused.

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