Diocese of Steubenville OH - BishopAccountability.org

20 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Elwood Bernas

Ordained: 1984
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

First named as accused on diocese's list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1986.

Sources:

Diocese of Steubenville List 10.31.18
WTOV 10.31.18

Fr. Robert A. Brown

Ordained: 1939
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Accused in 2005 of abusing a boy during a rectory overnight in 1970. Brown allegedly gave alcohol to a group of boys and masturbated the boy as part of the abuse. Accused also of abusing three of the boy's cousins on other occasions. Diocese announced in 2006 that it had received a credible allegation that Brown sexually abused a child 1976-78 together with Mr. Paul Ditto, a lay volunteer. Retired 1984. Died 10/7/91. On Steubenville diocese's list 10/31/18. On Columbus diocese's list in 9/19.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Vincent Danko

Ordained: 1959
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1971. Died 11/25/91.

Sources:

Diocese of Steubenville List 10.31.18
WTOV 10.31.18

Fr. Christopher Foxhoven

Ordained: 2004
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Pastor of Holy Cross and St. Mary of the Hill. Suspended in 10/18 after admitting to "sexual contact with and abuse of a minor." Admitted to impregnating a 17-year-old girl, who was a Holy Cross altar server. Arrested, charged with 8 counts of sexual battery. Prosecutor stated that Foxhoven had been grooming the girl for three years, and the sexual contact started in 8/18. The baby was born in 6/19. Foxhoven pled guilty. Sentenced 11/18 to 12 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender. On diocese's list 10/31/18. Appealed conviction in 4/19, arguing that his sentence was excessive. Laicization announced in 6/20. The victim filed suit in 3/21. It was revealed that Foxhoven was suspended for a week in 2017 and ordered to counseling after a report that he had taken the girl to a wedding reception, where he was seen inappropriately touching her.

Sources:

Fr. Mark J. Froehlich

Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

In a letter to parishioners at Mass on 5/27/18, the Steubenville diocese announced that it had received credible allegations of sexual abuse by Froehlich and had removed him from active ministry. An alleged victim said she had tried to report the abuse since her teens, but was told by priests and others in the diocese that it was her fault. She again reported the abuse to the diocese in 1/18. Froehlich denied the allegation. Froehlich was named a monsignor in 1987 and retired on 1/31/14. In addition to many parish assignments, he was a teacher and official at Guernsey Catholic Central HS in Cambridge 1972-1977 and a chancery official, including a stint as dean and long tenure as a judge in the tribunal. He was also finance officer of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Barnesville and prominent in the Rotary Club.

Assignments:

Barnesville Enterprise 01.29.14

Sources:

Fr. Harold J. Goschke

Ordained: 1948
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

First named publicly as accused on the Steubenville Diocese's list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1957. Per the Official Catholic Directory, Goschke was Absent on Leave from the Diocese of Steubenville after 1957, and by 1966 was working at parishes in the Diocese of Stockton. There through 1976, then in the Directories as a Steubenville priest Absent on Leave. Died 1/5/92. Added to Stockton's list 11/12/20, which notes he was chaplain at Deuel Vocational Institution 1962-83.

Assignments:

Diocese of Stockton Revised List 11.12.20

Sources:

Diocese of Steubenville List 10.31.18
WTOV 10.31.18
Diocese of Stockton Necrology accessed 12.01.18

Fr. Kenneth L. Harris

Ordained: 1940
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

First named publicly as accused on the Diocese of Steubenville's list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1963. Per the 1943 Official Catholic Directory, Harris was a priest of the the Natchez MS diocese. By 1950 he was Absent On Leave from Natchez, in San Bernardino, CA, back in MS by 1951, then Absent on Leave again in the 1952 Directory. By 1953 he was still on leave from Natchez, in the Diocese of Steubenville. He died 6/22/64. On Jackson diocese's list 3/19/19. It notes alleged abuse in 1951 in Steubenville reported in 1998 and 2003.

Sources:

Fr. Michael D. Hellmer

Ordained: 1970
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Monsignor. First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1989. Deceased.

Sources:

Diocese of Steubenville List 10.31.18
WTOV 10.31.18

Fr. John Holmes

Donate Photo

Ordained: 1969
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

First named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1989. Deceased.

Sources:

WTOV 10.31.18
Diocese of Steubenville List 10.31.18

Fr. Robert F. Marrer

Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Accused in 1995 of the sexual abuse, including rape, of a 3- to 6-year-old girl in 1967-70. Marrer took a leave of absence in 1971 and died in 1996. On Steubenville diocese's list 10/31/18.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Joseph A. Martinkosky

Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

First named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1991.

Sources:

WTOV 10.31.18
Diocese of Steubenville List 10.31.18

Fr. Conrad McGuire

Donate Photo

Order: TOR
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Also called John. Named publicly as credibly accused by Franciscan University in 4/19. "Friar John McGuire, formerly Gather Conrad McGuire." Laicized in 1988.

Sources:

WTOV TV 04.12.19

Fr. John B. Nadzam

Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Diocese announced 4/09 that it had received a substantiated allegation that Nadzam abused a minor in the 1970s. Civil authorities notified. Nadzam was assigned to several parishes over the years and taught at Catholic Central High School. He died in 2/05. On diocese's list 10/31/18. Noted to have been supsended from ministry in 2004.

Assignments:

Assignment Record from SteubenvilleTruth.org

Sources:

Fr. Henry B. O’Donnell

Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Accused 12/8/05 of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in 1950 in Washington DC. The girl's mother allegedly discovered O'Donnell in the act of forcibly kissing her daughter as well as touching the girl's breasts and genitals beneath her clothes. O'Donne

Assignments:

Detailed BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Hanes-Martinez Testimony 12.08.05

Fr. Carl Anthony Peltz

Ordained: 1977
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Navy chaplain 1983-1990, including in Iceland in 1985, where Peltz allegedly forced a 12-year-old boy to drink whiskey, then raped him. Incardinated into the Kalamazoo diocese in 1990. Federal suit filed in 1991 alleged the Steubenville diocese should have known Peltz had a drinking problem, yet it certified him as fit for service. Suit settled by the diocese in 1993 for $25K. "Exonerated" in 2003 by the Kalamazoo diocesan review board, which cited it found no credible evidence. Died 12/26/15.

Assignments:

Assignment Record from SteubenvilleTruth.org accessed 8.14.11

Sources:

Fr. Walter Plimmer

Ordained: 1934
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Actor on Broadway prior to ordination. Indexed in the 1943 Official Catholic Directory as a U.S. Army chaplain and with the suffix s.s., indicating he was a priest of the Society of St. Sulpice. In 1946-47 Plimmer was at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. By 1948 he is shown as a priest of the Diocese of Steubenville, apparently having left his Order. First named publicly as accused by the Diocese of Steubenville on its list 10/31/18. Noted to have been suspended from ministry in 1956. Deceased. Included in 3/21 on the Rockville Center diocese's list of accused, name misspelled "Plimner." It note he wasn't assigned there and that abuse allegedly occurred in a private house, a motel, and on a boat.

Sources:

Fr. Francis J. Rothbauer

Ordained: 1966
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Removed from active ministry in 1988. Suit filed in 1989 claimed Rothbauer sexually abused a girl during counseling, starting when she was age 14, 1968-72. Bishop Mussio allegedly learned of the abuse in 1972 and transferred Rothbauer to another parish. Rothbauer died 2/17/11 at age 83. On the diocese's list 10/31/18. It notes that he was suspended from ministry in 1998.

Sources:

Fr. Samuel Tiesi

Order: TOR
Ordained: 1963
Status: Accused

Died: 06/12/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Named publicly as credibly accused by Franciscan University in 4/19. Accused of the sexual abuse of young female college students. Died in 2001.

Sources:

Seminarian Joel A Wright

Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Seminarian at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus OH. Arrested by federal agents in San Diego 1/29/16 on charges related to allegedly seeking to travel to Mexico to adopt and have sex with multiple female infants. Per court documents, Wright tried to adopt a baby from Mexico in 2014. His mother told news media that at least 40 dioceses and religious orders rejected his applications prior to his admission to Pontifical College. The college dismissed him after his arrest. Pled not guilty in U.S. District Court 2/25/16. Pled guilty in a plea agreement 4/13/16. Sentenced 7/1/16 to 16 years in federal prison and lifetime supervision. On diocese's list 10/31/18.

Assignments:

WTOV 02.04.16

Sources:

Fr. Gary Zalenski

Ordained: 1977
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Steubenville OH

Suspended 11/17/07 after "credible" accusation he sexually assaulted girl, age 9-11, 1989-1991 in Lore City, OH. She told parents and church; he was transferred. Denied allegations. Matter sent to D.A. and to Rome. In 10/08, Grand Jury did not indict, citing lack of probable cause. A second accuser came forward 10/08. Zalenski's attorney threatened to sue if she spoke publicly. She sued 1/09 for release of records. OH Sup Court ordered Court to release records 7/10. Sent to three treatment centers. Laicized 2014. On diocese's list 10/31/18.

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.