Fr. Michael Eugene Kelly

From Ireland. Accused of the sexual abuse, including rape, of multiple children. Psychological evaluation in 1999 after parents complained to the Stockton diocese of inappropriate touching of their children; determined to have “latent pedophilic elements.” Moved to another parish. Removed in 10/2007 after a claim that he molested a 10-year-old boy in 1984. Denied the allegation. Reinstated in 3/2008; claimant wouldn’t cooperate. Suit filed 3/27/2008. New allegations in 2011 of abuse 2000-2002. Stayed active. Found liable 4/6/2012 by a civil jury of abuse . Privileges removed. Fled to Ireland in 4/2012 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Calaveras County District Attorney sought extradition. Diocese settled lawsuit 4/20/2012 for $3.75M. New suits in 9/2012 and 11/2012. He denied both. New indictments 1/14/2014. Name included on a list of claimed abusers attached to Stockton Diocese’s 5/9/2014 filing in bankruptcy court. Traveled to Mexico and Morocco. Arrested in 2016 by federal authorities in Morocco, held for months, returned to Ireland. The Calaveras County District Attorney dropped the charges in 2016 after Kelly’s 26-year-old accuser died. Still wanted in 1/2017 by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of CA for unlawful flight. New suit filed in 2022 of abuse of a boy in 1979; the boy was a referee in the youth soccer lead Kelly helped found. In 11/2023 the CA Attorney General was to investigate the District Attorney’s 2016 dropping of charges.