Child Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed against S.a. Archdiocese

KENS
May 26, 2015

http://www.kens5.com/story/news/2015/05/26/child-sexual-assault-lawsuit-filed-against-sa-archdioces/27980083/

A civil lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Archdioceses of San Antonio accuses two priests of sexually assaulting an orphan during the 1980s.

The lawsuit claims leaders of the church covered up the complaints for decades.

The lawsuit alleges that former San Antonio priest Jesus "Jesse" Dominguez, a seminary student at the time, began to serve as a father figure to the orphan. According to the lawsuit, the boy was living at a nearby orphanage, and Dominguez would regularly help with homework, clothing and food, eventually taking the minor out for movies and meals. The outings, the lawsuit states, would end in Dominguez taking the boy back to his living quarters and molesting him. This happened for two years, about two or three times per week, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also states that when the boy would question Dominguez's actions, he would claim a heart condition and often fake a heart attack. On one account, the boy claimed Dominguez threatened to kill the minor and himself when the minor's questions proved too much.

Dominguez was sued three separate times in California and is a convicted sex offender, according to media reports.

The lawsuit states the boy attempted to get help from another church leader, but his concerns were dismissed. KENS 5 is not disclosing the name of this leader because the person has no criminal record and has not been charged with a crime.

The lawsuit states that the boy sought help from a priest at another local church in 1983. The lawsuit states the priest immediately began to molest the boy instead of listening or acting on his concerns. KENS 5 is not naming this priest or the church where he worked because he has no criminal history and has not been charged with a crime. He does still work in San Antonio.

The lawsuit states that as the boy grew into adulthood, he has suffered anger, depression and substance abuse, and he has attempted suicide. It states he sought help from a group within the archdiocese and was told a criminal suit would be filed, but states he has yet to hear about anything being done and has received no help.

An archdiocese spokesman said Tuesday the church had not been served with the lawsuit and therefore could not comment on it.