Diocese of Cheyenne WY

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

Terry McKiernan February 26, 2021

9 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Gerald Chleborad

Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Arrested in 1995 for public lewdness, assigned at the time to a Jackson parish. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 6/12/2019. It notes allegations of the sexual abuse of three adolescent males, occurring 1984-1985, 1995, 2003. Reportedly, there were more allegations in 2016. Per the list, at some point Chelborad was suspended, his faculties were removed, and he retired.

Assignments:

Diocese of Cheyenne List 06.12.19

Sources:

Fr. Philip Colibraro

Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Died: 03/31/2017
Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Also known as Pietro Colibraro. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 6/12/2019, which notes one substantiated allegation of abuse against Colibraro, of an adolescent male in 1965. Colibraro died in 2017.

Assignments:

Diocese of Cheyenne List 06.12.19

Sources:

Fr. Joseph P. Fraher

Ordained: 1950
Status: Accused

Died: 07/8/2020
Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Named publicly as the subject of substantiated allegations by the diocese on its list in 2020. It notes abuse 1952-1955 and 1957-1966 reported in 1990, 2019 and 2020. Died 7/8/2020.

Assignments:

Diocese of Cheyenne List 12.11.20

Sources:

Fr. Anthony Thomas Jablonowski

Ordained: 1970
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Ordained for the Diocese of Covington, KY. Worked in KY, GA, NC, WY, OH, AZ. Transferred in 1980 to the Diocese of Cheyenne. Worked in the Diocese of Tucson 1993-1997. Moved in 2000 to the Diocese of Steubenville. Pleaded no contest in 2004 to charges of abusing a 17-year-old boy in 1982. Sentenced to 15 months to 7 years in prison. Privileges removed. Another accuser filed suit in 3/2005. Released from prison in 7/2005. Required to register as a sex offender. On Tucson's list of abusive priests, referred to as a Steubenville priest. Laicization in 2006. Registered offender in FL as of 2010. Had been living in OH. On Steubenville diocese's list 10/31/2018. On the Cheyenne diocese's list 6/12/2019, which notes four adolescent male victims, abuse occurring 1983-1988. Laicized in 2006. On the Glenmary Home Missioners list 10/11/2019; worked 1976-1980 on loan to the order. On Charlotte the diocese's list 12/29/2019. On the Covington diocese's list 7/31/2020. On the Lexington diocese's list in 8/2020; one known victim at Lexington Catholic High in the early 1970s. On Atlanta's list in 11/2020 (name misspelled). Included in the 3/24/2023 GA PAC Report, which shows that four teenage boys in WY reported abuse by Jablonowski 1983-1988. Also, accused in 2003 of the sexual abuse of a minor in the early 1970s at Lexington Catholic High School.

Assignments:

Sources:

Fr. John Murray

Ordained: 1960
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Accused in a lawsuit in 11/2008 of sexually assaulting a teenage girl at least four times 1976-1977, while assigned to St. Anthony's in Casper. She began to suffer anxiety attacks and nightmares in 2003; she disclosed the abuse to her doctor and in 2005 told police. In 2006 Murray pleaded guilty to engaging in indecent liberties with a minor; given five years probation. Had been volunteering at St. Anthony's; placed on leave without privileges. He mentioned two girls. Violated probation 10/2008 and spent a week in jail. The case settled in 1/2009. Included on the Diocese's list 6/12/2019. Noted to be retired and prohibited from active ministry.

Assignments:

Diocese of Cheyenne List 06.12.19

Sources:

Fr. James Power

Ordained: 1939
Status: Accused

Died: 09/4/1985
Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

From Ireland. Arrived in Cheyenne in 1939, the year he was ordained. Named publicly as accused by the Diocese on its list 6/12/2019. Accused of sexually abusing five adolescent boys 1958-1972. Reportedly was transferred to Torrington after allegations, continued to abuse, then was sent "back to Ireland." Died in 9/1985. Per his obituary he had been retired and was living and serving at a parish in County Waterford, Ireland.

Sources:

Fr. Cletus A. Prado

Ordained: 1958
Status: Accused

Died: 06/27/2001
Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese of Cheyenne on its list 6/12/2019. Accused of abusing two adolescent males, 1958-1963 and 1977-1978. Prado's faculties were removed and he retired. He is not indexed in the 1987 or 1988 Official Catholic Directories. He resurfaces in the 1998-1992 Directories as in the Diocese Lubbock TX, and in the 1993 Directory he is shown as in the Diocese of Phoenix AZ, where he died in 2001.

Assignments:

Diocese of Cheyenne List 06.12.19

Sources:

Diocese of Cheyenne List 06.12.19

Fr. “Donn” Shelly

Order: CSSp
Ordained: 1949
Status: Accused

Died: 08/25/2007
Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Given name Denis Michael Shelly. From the Spiritans' Irish Province, Dublin. Worked for 1950-1967 in Biafra, prior to arriving in Cheyenne. Named publicly as accused by the the Cheyenne diocese on its list updated 11/8/2019. Allegedly abused an adolescent girl 1969-1970. Assigned to Our Lady of Fatima in Casper and St. Mary's Cathedral in Cheyenne. Died in Ireland in 2007.

Assignments:

Diocese of Cheyenne List updated 11.08.19

Sources:

Fr. George Tellez

Ordained: 1961
Status: Accused

Died: 09/23/2021
Diocese: Diocese of Cheyenne WY

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese on its list 6/12/2019, which notes three allegations of abuse against him of adolescent females, 1966-1971. Per the list updated in 11/2019, Tellez is alleged to have abused four adolescent girls. Left the priesthood and married in 1973 and raised a family. Laicized. Died in 2021.

Assignments:

Diocese of Cheyenne List updated 11.08.19

Sources:

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.