Denis Lyons, 75, Is Charged with Molesting a Catholic School Boy in the 1990s. His Arraignment Was Postponed until August
By Rachanee Srisavasdi
Orange County Register
July 22, 2009
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/county-lyons-prosecutors-2503366-years-boy
NEWPORT BEACH – A retired priest appeared at Harbor Justice Center Wednesday for his initial appearance on charges that he molested a young boy at a Costa Mesa church more than 17 years ago.
Denis Lyons, 75, of Seal Beach was arrested Monday afternoon while playing cards at a community center near his Leisure World residence. He was booked at Orange County Jail – where he is being incarcerated in lieu of $100,000 bail.
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| File booking photo of former priest Denis Lyons. |
Today, Lyon's arraignment – a hearing in which he would enter a plea – was pushed back to August 11. A bail review hearing will also be held that day to determine if Lyons should be held in custody, county prosecutors said.
Lyons, who was removed from ministry in 2002, used to be a priest at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in the early 1990s.
There, authorities say, he molested a young boy four times – twice in the parish rectory and twice in the church sacristy – between Jan 1. 1992 and Dec. 31, 1995. The alleged victim was a student at the adjoining Catholic school, and was seven years old when the abuse began, prosecutors said.
He faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of four felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, along with a sentencing enhancement allegation that he committed substantial sexual conduct.
Lyons has stood accused before of crimes against children.
In 2003, county prosecutors charged him with molesting another boy at St. John the Baptist, but this time earlier – between 1978 and 1981. He also was accused of assaulting two other boys in that case – though those purported assaults were uncharged and alleged to corroborate Lyon's perceived proclivity to commit molestation.
That case was reluctantly dismissed by county prosecutors after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that disallowed prosecution of some older sex crimes.
Contact the writer: 714-834-3773 or rsrisavasdi@ocregister.com
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