Former Ia Priest Accused of Molestation

CBS 2
March 24, 2015

http://www.cbs2iowa.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Former-IA-Priest-Accused-of-Molestation-106485.shtml

[with vidoe]

An allegation has been made that a priest who formally served with the Archdiocese of Dubuque sexually abused a young boy 30 years ago.

The victim spoke to CBS2 News Tuesday morning about his claim.

Jeff Buchheit says Fr. Leo Riley abused him at Resurrection Parish in Dubuque, he reported the incident to the Archdiocese of Dubuque in December.

Buchheit says the alleged abuse happened when he was in the 4th grade and serving as an altar boy. Buchheit says he felt he had to come forward and publicly talk about what happened. "I would say I've been dealing with aspects of it my entire life.

The realizations and understanding of what happened to me has been recent." The accusation is against Father Leo Riley. Riley began his work in the Dubuque Archdiocese in 1982 and served at a number of Iowa churches until he transferred to a Florida Archdiocese in 2002.

In a letter dated February 18th, 2015, Archbishop of Dubuque Michael O. Jackels confirmed he was notified of the claim in December 2014 and that it allegedly happened in 1985. At that time, Fr. Riley was assigned as an associate pastor at Resurrection Parish in Dubuque.