Denis Lyons (O.C. Sheriff's Dept.) |
COSTA MESA (KTLA) -- A former priest has pleaded guilty to charges of molesting a 7- to 9-year-old boy at a Costa Mesa church nearly 18 years ago.
Denis Lyons, 78, of Seal Beach, admitted to four felony counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 14 in a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Lyons' alleged victim, 24-year-old Jonathan Kirrer, says he was molested in 1994 and 1995 when he was in third grade at St. John the Baptist Catholic School.
The former priest was arrested at his home at Leisure World in Seal Beach in July 2009.
Lyons was removed from the church in 2002 after admitting that he had inappropriate sexual relations with adults in 1993. He was also charged with molesting a boy in 1978, but the case was dropped because of a Supreme Court ruling that stopped the prosecution of some older sex crimes.
Several people have accused Lyons of sexual abuse, prompting the Diocese of Orange to pay out $4 million to settle such sex abuse claims.
Lyons be sentenced May 25.
He could have been sentenced to 14 years in state prison if convicted at trial, but has agreed to serve one year in county jail and five years probation. He must also complete lifetime sex offender registration.
Denis Lyons, 78, of Seal Beach, admitted to four felony counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 14 in a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Lyons' alleged victim, 24-year-old Jonathan Kirrer, says he was molested in 1994 and 1995 when he was in third grade at St. John the Baptist Catholic School.
The former priest was arrested at his home at Leisure World in Seal Beach in July 2009.
Lyons was removed from the church in 2002 after admitting that he had inappropriate sexual relations with adults in 1993. He was also charged with molesting a boy in 1978, but the case was dropped because of a Supreme Court ruling that stopped the prosecution of some older sex crimes.
Several people have accused Lyons of sexual abuse, prompting the Diocese of Orange to pay out $4 million to settle such sex abuse claims.
Lyons be sentenced May 25.
He could have been sentenced to 14 years in state prison if convicted at trial, but has agreed to serve one year in county jail and five years probation. He must also complete lifetime sex offender registration.
