Br. Charles Leonard Connor

Allegations were received by the Jesuits in 1995 and 1997 that Connor and Fr. Edward Burke were abusing two intellectually disabled adult men living/working at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos. Connor admitted to inappropriate touching; he was restricted, but the abuse was not reported to police. The case was reopened in 2000; a search warrant revealed documents showing that the abuse may have lasted 1970-2000. Connor was sent to live at at the all-boys Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose. He pleaded no contest in 2001 and served six months’ home detention. The victims received a $7.5M settlement 9/4/2002. Connor was returned to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center. He was accused in 2002 of abusing Jesuit Fr. James Chevedden in 1998; Chevedden struggled with mental illness and was confined to a wheelchair. The complaint was deemed unproven by Jesuit Provincial Fr. Tom Smolich. Chevedden’s psychiatrist, Dr. George Maloof, said he had “no doubt that Fr. Chevedden was accurate in what he described” and that the Jesuits were more concerned about keeping the allegation quiet than in supporting Chevedden. Chevedden died in 2004 in a fall from a courthouse parking garage; the death was ruled a suicide. He had been driven to jury duty by credibly accused Jesuit and Sacred Heart resident Fr. Jerald Lindner. Chevedden’s family received a $1.6M settlement from the Jesuits. Connor died 7/11/2011. His name is included on the Jesuits West Province list 12/7/2018.