Seminarian Joseph Skelton, Jr.

Ordained: 2001
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Washington DC and MD

Accused in a 2008 civil suit, along with Fr. George Stallings, of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in the summer of 1984. Skelton was a seminarian at the time. The boy was helping Stallings remodel the St. Teresa of Avila rectory and was and staying in the rectory’s attic to avoid a long commute. Case settled in 10/2009 for $125K. Skelton resigned from the seminary in MI in 1988 after pleading guilty to abusing a 15-year-old boy in a seminary room. Ordained for the Tagbilaran diocese in the Philippines. Still in ministry on the island of Bohol in 2019. Included on the Detroit archdiocese’s 6/10/2019 list of credibly accused.


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.