A Timeline of Charges Involving Priests in Minnesota

Star Tribune
June 5, 2015

http://www.startribune.com/a-timeline-of-charges-involving-priests-in-minnesota/306350571/

February: The Rev. Curtis Wehmeyer is sentenced to prison for abusing two boys in 2010. He is later defrocked.

May: Minnesota Child Victims Act prompts the filing of lawsuits alleging clergy abuse, some decades old.

September: Whistleblower Jennifer Haselberger says church officials knew of Wehmeyer’s sexual misconduct.

December: Under court order, archdiocese releases names of 33 credibly accused priests.

2014

January: Ramsey County declines to charge church officials in Wehmeyer case, saying it can’t prove they violated law requiring immediate reporting of abuse allegations.

March: Ramsey district judge orders archdiocese to produce files related to credibly accused priests.

April: Archdiocese’s internal task force reports “serious shortcomings” in its handling of child sex abuse.

May: First criminal charges following new law are filed against former priest Francis Hoefgen in Dakota County.

October: Archdiocese and clergy abuse victims reach settlement, including reforms in reporting abuse.

2015

Jan. 16: Archdiocese declares bankruptcy, citing burden of clergy abuse lawsuits.

Feb. 11: Ramsey County declines to charge cases of alleged priest sex abuse, bringing the number to nine.

May 26: Jury acquits Hoefgen of abusing boy in 1989-92.

June 5: Ramsey County files charges against archdiocese for “failure to protect children” from clergy abuse.