Three new lawsuits have been filed against the accused former Dubuque priest

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG/WWSB) – Three new civil lawsuits are being filed against the Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque and a former Dubuque priest accused of sexually abusing boys.

Three new civil lawsuits were filed this week in Charlotte County, Florida, by anonymous Iowa altar boys alleging that Leo Riley sexually abused them in Dubuque in the 1980s.

Riley now works in a church in Florida. Last month, he sat there in a separate John Doe lawsuit alleging Riley sexually abused him in Florida.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges that Father Riley “sought and received parental consent for plaintiff to participate in counseling and other activities and to spend time alone with him.”

It goes on to say that Riley would force the minor to drink alcohol and then engage in harmful and illegal sexual contact with the plaintiff.

The alleged victim says the abuse began in 1985 when Riley was pastor of Resurrection Church in Dubuque, Iowa.

The allegations reflect a criminal case filed in April in Dubuque against Riley on five counts of sexual abuse. This lawsuit was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired.

The lawsuit includes six counts against Riley, including assault, childhood sexual abuse and trust fraud.

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