Former Orange County Priest Denis Lyons Facing Criminal Trial

By Jeff Anderson
Jeff Anderson & Associates
March 12, 2012

http://www.abusedinsocal.com/SoCal_Abuse_Blog.aspx

This week, former Orange County priest Denis Lyons is heading to trial on four criminal counts of lewd acts on a child under 14. According to press reports, the trial has been delayed for more than two years—despite the objections of the Orange County District Attorney's Office, which has been eager to try the case and get justice for victims. The alleged crimes took place at Costa Mesa's St. John the Baptist Parish, which also houses an elementary school.

These criminal charges are only the latest in Lyons' long history of suspicious and predatory behavior. Secret internal church files showed that Orange Diocese officials knew the Irish-born priest had allegations of abuse dating back to the 1970s, but instead of calling the police and helping victims, they sent Lyons to a church-run treatment center for child molesting clerics.

Despite mounting evidence, Lyons remained an active pastor with complete access to children. He was later transferred to St. Edward's Parish in Dana Point, where he worked with John Lenihan, another former Orange County priest arrested for molesting minors. The Orange County Register called the parish "scandal-laden," with at least four former priests arrested for sexually abusing children.

Lyons was finally removed from active ministry in 2002 when victims began to come forward in anticipation of the California Civil Window. The civil window was a one year law—similar to a law in Delaware—that allowed victims of child sexual abuse to seek accountability in the civil courts, no matter when the abuse occurred. These windows have exposed more than 500 predators nationwide and aided law enforcement in dozens of criminal prosecutions.

Soon after his removal in 2002, Lyons was arrested for molesting minors, but the charges were dropped due to the 2003 Stogner Decision.

At least three alleged Lyons victims came forward in 2003 through the California Civil Window. As a result, the Diocese of Orange paid more than $4 million.

Considering Lyons' long and sordid history in Orange County, we believe that there may be many more victims.