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Total Individuals: 18


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Fr. Mario Arbelaez Olarte

Ordained: 1994
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Arrested 5/03, charged with enticing a minor over the internet. Claimed he was doing research. Posed as a 20-year-old. Agreed to meet a 15-year-old boy ; the "boy" was a police officer. Placed on leave, his computer seized. In 9/03 he pled no contest to the criminal charges. Did not show up for sentencing 11/03. Defense attorney said Olarte had returned to his native country of Colombia as part of plea agreement. Prosecutors denied.Judge issued an arrest warrant. On sex offender registry. Laicized 3/31/06. On Salt Lake diocese's list 12/4/18.

Fr. William Cody Bressler

Ordained: 1949
Status: Settled

Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Died in 1990. Named publicly as accused by the Salt Lake City diocese on its list 12/4/2018. Allegations reported to the diocese 2/13/2004 that Bressler put his hands up the legs of a minor 1955-1956. He was in Salt Lake as a visiting priest. Salt Lake informed the Diocese of Arlington VA. Faculties removed. Included on the Alexandria LA diocese's list 2/6/2019. It notes multiple credible allegations of abuse of male and female minors in the 1960s, brought to the Review Board in 2004 and 2005. Settlements with victims in 2006 and 2017. Included in 11/2021 on the Gallup diocese's list of credibly accused.

Fr. George F. Davich

Donate Photo
Ordained: 1962
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Monsignor. Named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 12/4/18. Parish priest, Vicar General 1982-86. Allegations reported 5/2/02 to the diocese that Davich slept in bed with a minor 1979-85. He retired without faculties 8/02 and was ordered by the Vatican to a life of prayer and penance. Reported in 2012 to be living in CA.

Fr. Raymond A. Devlin

Order: SJ
Ordained: 1955
Status: Accused

Died: 12/6/2011
Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

In 1/1990 the family of a boy, age 14, told Salt Lake diocesan officials that Devlin molested their son in CA while there for a track meet in 12/1989. Devlin was a teacher and the boy's track coach at St. Joseph High School in Ogden. The family agreed to keep silent if Devlin went to counseling and was removed from contact with children. No prosecution. Sent to the Jesuit Community in Los Gatos, CA, received three months' counseling. The family went to the press in 8/1993 after learning that Devlin was in active ministry at a parish in Virginia City, NV, with access to minors. Removed. Sent back to Los Gatos where he lived until his death 2/6/2011. The Catholic Directory 1995-1997 shows him in Los Gatos and at the Cathedral in Stockton, CA. On Salt Lake City diocese's list 12/4/2018. On Las Vegas diocese's list 4/12/2019. On Jesuits West Province list 12/7/2018, noting a parish assignment in Paradise, CA 1991-1993. On Stockton's 11/12/2020 list.

Fr. David R. Gaeta

Ordained: 1980
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Allegations reported to archdiocese in 8/18 of abuse by Gaeta in 1981 or 1982 at St. Joseph's Catholic High School in Ogden. Placed on leave 8/24/18. Military chaplain and hospital chaplain in his native Massachusetts during 1984-2017. Returned to UT 2017. On Salt Lake diocese's list 12/4/18. Retired without faculties.

Fr. Charles LaPenta

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1954
Status: Accused

Died: 08/1/2009
Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Named publicly as accused on the Salt Lake City diocese's list 12/4/18. Noted to have been accused in 11/06 of kissing a minor 1972-1976+. LaPenta worked in the diocese 1970-96. LaPenta was living in a nursing facility run by his Order in 2006, diagnosed with dementia. Died in OH 8/1/09. Per his obituary he was a high school teacher, guidance counselor and administrator. He worked at his Order's schools in DE, PA, NY and UT. Chaplain to the Royal family of Monaco in the 1960s. Also U.S. Army chaplain in UT and pastor of two parishes.

Br. Neil McMenamin

Order: OSFS
Status: Accused

Died: 04/7/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Named publicly as accused on the Salt Lake City diocese's list 12/4/18. Diocese noted it received a allegation 3/13/07 that McMenamin sexually abused a minor in 1962. Reported to Order 3/07. McMenamin died 4/7/15. Per his obituary, he joined his Order in 1958. Assigned to Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia 1959-62, Judge Memorial High School in to Salt Lake City 1962-71, then St. Mary's High School in Stockton CA 1971. There until 2010. Lived in Order's community in Childs MD 2010 until his death.

Fr. Thomas P. O’Neill

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Died: 09/21/2015
Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Accused 4/25/02 of sexually abusing a boy 1963-67 in the early 1960s, while assigned to Judge Memorial School in Salt Lake City. O'Neill was at the school 1957-70, principal 1962-70. Principal of St. Mary's HS in Stockton CA diocese 1970-78. Removed 5/02 from St. Francis de Sales HS in Toledo OH diocese where he moved in 1978. Taught at Father Judge HS in Philadelphia PA in late 1950s. Named in 2003 suit as having knowledge of abuse by James Rapp. Suit dismissed on SOL 8/03. Died 09/21/15. On Diocese of Salt Lake City's list 12/4/18. Added to Stockton's list 11/12/20.

Fr. James F. Rapp

Order: OSFS
Ordained: 1967
Status: Convicted

Died: 09/6/2024
Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

Worked in PA, UT, NY, IL, MI and OK. Teacher, wrestling coach. Accused of abuse of at least two MI boys in 1987. Removed, sent to counseling. Accepted in 1987 into the Joliet diocese by Bishop Imesch, who knew of Rapp's sexual abuse of boys. Also worked in OK; abused boys there. Convicted in 1999 in OK; received a 40-year sentence.  Settlement of $5M in an OK civil suit. Accused in a 2003 Utah lawsuit by two brothers; dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Laicized 9/21/2009. Charged in 5/2015 with abuse in the 1980s of boys at Lumen Christi High in Jackson MI. Six more counts added 6/26/2015. Pleaded no contest in 2/2016. Sentenced to up to 40 years 4/29/2016. Included on the Salt Lake City diocese's list 12/4/2018, where he was accused in 11/2000-2002 of abusing four minors 1969-1975. On the Lansing list 9/27/2019. On the OK City diocese's list 10/3/2019, and on the Joliet diocese's list (ordination date wrong). New lawsuit in 10/2020 in UT. A new suit in 11/2020 v the Salt Lake City diocese alleges a nun walked in on Rapp abusing a boy, did nothing, and threatened the boy. Included in the 5/23/2023 IL Attorney General's Report. Died 9/6/2024 in prison.

Fr. Lawrence M. Spellen

Ordained: 1946
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Salt Lake City UT

"Bud." Spellen told Bishop Weigand in 1993 that he was being accused of sexual misconduct during the mid-1980s. Diocese investigated and found some merit in accusations. Spellen was placed on leave. Matter reported to CPS. Apparently the misconduct was still going on because Vicar General offered the youth counseling when he said he wanted to break off the "relationship." Spellen died 2/18/03. Worked in Honolulu at Damien High at one point. Named in 10/13 civil suit in Hawaii. On Salt Lake CIty diocese's list 12/4/18. It notes allegations received 1992, 5/02 and 10/12 of abuse of three minors 1958-69 and 1980s.