Texas Priest Alleged to Have Sought Hit Man to Kill Teen Boy Who Accused Him of Sexual Abuse

John Fiala, a 52-year-old Roman Catholic priest, has been charged with soliciting a hit man to kill a teenager who had accused him of sexual abuse. Fiala, who was arrested on November 18^th, is being held on $700,000 bond.

Earlier this year, the priest was named in a lawsuit brought by the teen’s family. The boy’s parents accused the priest of sexually abusing their son—and of forcing the young man to have sex with him twice at gunpoint.

The abuse is alleged to have taken place in 2007 and 2008 when Fiala was a priest at the Sacred Heart of Mary Parish in Rocksprings, Texas.

Fiala allegedly first offered the hit job to one of his neighbors. The neighbor informed the police who sent an undercover officer to meet with the clergyman. Authorities said that Fiala “got as far as negotiating a $5,000 price” for killing the teen.

Sources:

Miami Herald
Boston Globe

– Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger