Deacon Leo O’Hara

Entered the Novitiate of the Third Order of St. Francis in 1957. Candidate for the permanent diaconate 1977-1980. Worked in two parishes and as an assistant hospital chaplain. Resigned in 1980. Named publicly as accused in the 4/5/2023 MD Attorney General’s Report. In 1981 the Archdiocese received a report that O’Hara had took a preteen boy to a movie and touched his upper leg. O’Hara “abruptly” left MD, after which five boys from St. Rose Elementary School alleged they had had “sexual experiences” with O’Hara. Charged in 1987 with 16 count of sexual offenses and 16 counts of child abuse in Ocean City MD. Also investigated for sexually assaulting minors in 1987 in Anne Arundel County. Admitted to molesting over 100 children since 1953. No charges. Allegation in 1995 of abuse of a boy, age 11, over a year in 1978. The two met when the boy was a hospital patient and O’Hara was a chaplain. Accused in 2002 of sexually assaulting another boy beginning in 1976, when the boy was ages 9-14, and 16. O’Hara began grooming the boy as a hospital chaplain, referred to as “Brother Pius,” and the boy was a patient. The boy’s younger brother was also abused. O’Hara died in 1/2004.