Arkansas Priests Accused of Abuse
The United States’ dioceses have a long history of childhood sexual abuse, including cases involving credibly accused priests. Arkansas dioceses are included in this pattern of abuse, particularly affecting vulnerable victims with a long history of allegations against clergy members abusing both children and vulnerable adults
Injury Lawyer Team is committed to helping Arkansas residents who are the victims of sexual abuse or sexual assault in the Catholic Church. We work with abuse survivors to help them get the compensation they deserve after priest abuse.
Arkansas Catholic Diocese Priest Sex Abuse List
| Last Name | First Name | Diocese | Status | Accusations (Summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Althoff | Donald | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | First named publicly as accused on diocese’s 9/10/18 list. One known victim. Leave of absence 1992. Removed from active ministry in 1995. |
| Dagwell | Robert A. | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | First named publicly on Little Rock list 9/10/18. Number of victims unknown. Removed from active ministry in 1986. Died in 1997. |
| Davis | Richard Patrick | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Sued | Davis was accused of fondling an altar boy twice in 1981, during a week-long training program at St. James and St. Albert. |
| Correnti | Joseph | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Settled | Correnti was first named publicly as accused on the diocese’s 9/10/18 list, noting two known victims. He was then accused of sexually abusing a boy, ages 14-15, during 1995-2002, and a sixth man in 1983-84. |
| Fuhrmann | Nicholas | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Sued | Long-time English teacher and boxing coach, sued by several people for abuse. Dismissed by court on SOL, permanently removed from active ministry in 2002. |
| McDaniel | John J. | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Settled | McDaniel was named publicly as accused on 9/10/18. Five men claimed sexual abuse as boys in the early 1970s by McDaniel. |
| Hannon | Patrick | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | Listed as accused by the Subiaco Abbey Benedictines on 1/24/20, and died 12/27/94. |
| McKay | Anthony | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | First named publicly as accused on Little Rock diocese’s 9/10/18 list. Worked in AR 1991-2001. Dismissed from priesthood 2004. Died 2015. Ten victims, none known in AR. |
| Mooney | Edward | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | First named publicly as accused on diocese’s 9/10/18 list. Two known victims. Left active ministry in 1971. Laicized 1974. Died in 2009. |
| Rajmund | Walter | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese when added to its list in 2/19. Two known victims. Died in 1990. |
| Simpson | Edward E. | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | Retired in 1986, died in 1988. The diocese received a report 4/20/20 that Simpson had sexually abused a minor. The diocese deemed the allegation credible and added Simpson to its list of accused. |
| Sugrue | Timothy Francis | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Settled | Sugrue was accused of abusing a girl and her sister in 1978 at an Air Force Base in AR. He was dismissed from the priesthood in 2005 and was listed on the Little Rock diocese’s 9/10/2018 list. |
| Torres | Robert A. | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | A former priest, Torres, sexually abused at least two people over 35 years prior, and likely at least two or three other young people. |
| Wright | William | Diocese of Little Rock AR | Accused | Wright joined the Glenmary order in 1978, left in 2006, and was named publicly as credibly accused by the Little Rock Diocese in 2/2019. He was added to the Jackson diocese list after the Glenmary list appeared. |
Numerous Arkansas dioceses have been the subject of sexual abuse allegations and lawsuits, many of which involve children or vulnerable adults as abuse survivors. A credible allegation of priest abuse is crucial in bringing light to a problem in the Catholic Church and ensuring that those responsible are permanently removed from their religious orders.
Reporting sex abuse is the first step in seeking justice when dealing with alleged abuse, which can lead to a child sexual abuse claim. Arkansas also allows victims of sex abuse to seek compensation through civil claims or a civil lawsuit. A civil claim enables sex abuse victims to recover damages for pain and suffering from liable clergy members or priests, including filing lawsuits against those responsible for the abuse.
Legal Support for Child Sexual Abuse Survivors in Arkansas
Injury Lawyer Team offers legal support for Arkansas Catholic Church members who have been sexually abused or assaulted. We also work with vulnerable victims who may be involved in a criminal investigation to hold those accused of abuse accountable.
Our legal team has the expertise and compassion that’s needed when dealing with clergy sexual abuse cases. We have successfully represented other Arkansas victims, ensuring the priests accused are held accountable, including those from the Roman Catholic diocese.
What Laws Govern Priest Abuse Lawsuits in Arkansas
Arkansas has several laws to help protect vulnerable victims of childhood sexual abuse, including the Sexual Abuse Act. The Sexual Abuse Act helps create guidelines that determine when a child sexual abuse survivor can press criminal charges or file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator for something like clergy abuse.
Arkansas Civil Statutes
Arkansas lawmakers passed new legislation in 2021, helping to better protect victims of child sexual abuse. The new legislation (Act 1036) expands the statute of limitations on filing a child sexual abuse case to the victim’s 55th birthday. When Arkansas lawmakers passed this, it also created a temporary two-year window for victims to come forward, but this has since expired.
Arkansas Criminal Statutes (Child Sex Abuse Statutes)
It’s important to note that Arkansas law doesn’t have a statute of limitations on criminal charges for felony child sexual abuse. A credible allegation of child sex abuse in Arkansas involving minors can and should be reported regardless of the time that has passed since the abuse.
Mandated Reporters
Arkansas requires mandated reporters to notify officials of any suspected abuse, including when someone makes a credible allegation against someone else. This includes clergy members, Arkansas priests, or other Catholic officials.
Those found responsible for attempting to cover up sexual abuse allegations may also be charged criminally and civilly.
Age of Consent
Every state has a different age of consent, which is when a person can legally consent to sexual activities, including sexual intercourse. In Arkansas, the legal age of consent is 16 for anyone 20 or older. This means that a 35-year-old and a 17-year-old can engage in sexual activity, and it’s not considered abuse.
For people under 20, the younger person must be at least 14 years old. Under Arkansas law, anyone under 14 cannot legally give consent. However, there are provisions to protect teens in relationships, such as the rule that a 12-year-old cannot consent if the actor is more than 3 years older. There are also provisions protecting married individuals.
A minor cannot legally consent to sexual activity of any kind between themselves and a person in a position of power, such as a priest, guardian, caretaker, coach, teacher, or counselor.
It’s important to understand the legal deadlines for filing lawsuits regarding abuse in Arkansas to ensure you can hold those accused of sexual abuse accountable. Our experienced team of lawyers can help you learn more about your legal options and the age of consent guidelines.
Filing a Clergy Abuse Lawsuit in Arkansas
Civil claims allow Arkansas residents to seek justice following sex abuse in the Catholic Clergy through various civil statutes. Seek justice for sexual abuse in Arkansas with the following steps:
- Contact Injury Lawyer Team – Contact our Arkansas clergy abuse lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your case.
- Case Investigation – A case investigation includes a deep review of the allegations. Our legal team will review ministry reports, witness statements, and records of the Arkansas Diocese. We will also check the complete list of accused and convicted ministry offenders to determine if others have previously reported the accused.
- Review Settlement Offer – It’s not uncommon for an active ministry to want to keep abuse by Catholic priests out of the public eye, which can sometimes lead to a settlement offer. Our compassionate team is here to help you review any settlement offers and determine if they appropriately cover your financial and psychological damages.
- Prepare and Represent the Victim for Trial – Our legal team is prepared to take sexual abuse allegations to trial, which allows victims to share their stories with a jury. We’ll work with you or your loved one to get the settlement you deserve.
Injury Lawyer Team has the knowledge and compassion you need when dealing with sexual abuse in Arkansas. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Support Resources for Survivors of Abuse in Arkansas
Child sexual abuse can have a lasting effect on victims. Youth and clergy members put their trust in their priest or clergy leader and are often left feeling confused, angry, and traumatized as a result. Actions from one priest can turn into a lifetime of trust issues.
Support resources are available to Arkansas victims to ensure they fully understand their legal rights, including access to a survivors’ network and other essential services.
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: Those who have been sexually abused can find helpful resources through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
- Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault: The Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault, located in Little Rock, is available for those who have suffered sexual abuse in Arkansas. Contact the group at 501-246-3276.
- Arkansas Crisis Center: The Arkansas Crisis Center is available for sexual abuse support at 988.
- NWA Center for Sexual Assault: The NWA Center for Sexual Assault is available to sexual assault victims 24/7 at 1-800-794-4175.
Legal support following ministry or priest abuse can also help connect Arkansas victims to the resources they need.
Notable Cases and Outcomes of Clergy Members Accused of Sexual Abuse in Arkansas
The Diocese of Little Rock has been the subject of numerous sexual abuse lawsuits, especially following the list published of credibly accused individuals. The most recent, in 2019, found that five survivors were eligible for compensation following sexual abuse in the 1970s when the victims were teenagers.
After numerous claims and allegations, the Little Rock Diocese had a list published of priests who have been credibly accused or convicted in the entire state. The list published, which includes those with the most felony sexual offenses, is an attempt to prioritize transparency in the Little Rock, Arkansas, diocese.
More allegations continue coming forward, not only of priests at the Diocese of Little Rock, but also at other dioceses. As states continue prioritizing the importance of seeking justice against these allegations by extending the statute of limitations, we can expect even more cases to come forward.
Injury Lawyer Team has reviewed public and private settlement data related to Arkansas clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the circumstances of your case, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range, as settlements vary based on the specifics of each case. In cases of extreme conduct or if the case were to go before a jury, damages could exceed $1 million.
Injury Lawyer Team represents sexual assault victims of the Diocese of Little Rock and other religious organizations. We have a solid track record, helping our clients seek justice and collect compensation to cover the resources necessary for moving on. Our legal team values a compassionate approach, guiding victims toward justice while understanding the sensitivity of the cases.
Whether seeking compensation from a priest or clergy member, we have the experience you need to build a solid case, including understanding the criminal statute, and influence change in the Catholic Church. You can rely on our team to turn your credible allegations into justice served.
Sexual assault in the Catholic Church, as highlighted in numerous news reports, is far too common. If you or a loved one was a victim of sexual abuse or assault, you deserve justice. Injury Lawyer Team offers a free, confidential consultation so that you can explore your legal options without risk. We also connect victims to the resources they need for reporting sexual abuse or seeking needed counseling services.
Contact a clergy sexual abuse lawyer today. You can also fill out our confidential online form and have one of our lawyers reach out to you.
Related Practice Areas
- Arkansas Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Fayetteville Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Fort Smith Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Jonesboro Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Little Rock Clergy Abuse Lawyer
- Springdale Clergy Abuse Lawyer
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.