(Image source from: fox10phoenix.com)
A former Catholic priest was charged of sexual abuse of two boys by a Maricopa County grand jury. He has been charged in connection with the sexual abuse of two boys under the age of 15 between 2003 and 2007.
The Catholic priest, John “Jack” Dallas Spaulding, 74, was charged with one count for the molestation of a child and six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.
The crimes had taken place when Spaulding was a priest at St. Gabriel’s Catholic church in Phoenix and St. Tim’s Catholic church in Mesa.
Spaudling was prohibited from identifying himself as a priest in the public after he has been removed from the ministry as stated by the Diocese of Phoenix that Spaulding was placed to leave from St. Timoth Parish in June 2011 after being found that he was alleged of sexual misconduct.
Several similar cases were brought into daylight after the priest was suspended which included a report filed by an anonymous man in August 2011 of being sexually abused by Spaulding when he was a priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenade between 1971 and 1975.
By October 2011 three more cases of molestation have been reported to the Diocese as being molested by Spaudling where in two of them when they were 13 years old and the other when he was 11.
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the Diocese of Phoenix, Spaulding and former Phoenix Bishop Thomas O’Brien as allegations were raised regarding the sexual abuse.
According to the lawsuit, a 13-year-old boy has been molested which lead him develop post-traumatic stress disorder and stress-destructive behaviour. He had died in 2020 he was shot in self-defense by his father as he attacked his father under the influence of methamphetamine.
Diocese said that, Spaulding has been found guilty of sins against the Sixth Commandment in 2014 and was recommended to get dismissed from the clerical state but the case is still pending as Spaulding has appealed the case and therefore he has not yet been removed officially from the clergy.
The Diocese of Phoenix said that anyone who has been a victim of the abuse can call the Marcopa County Attorney’s Office or local law enforcement agency
By Shrithika Kushangi
