Former Roman Catholic Priest Accused Of Molesting Child While Serving In Texas Arrested

A 78-year-old former Roman Catholic priest was charged Tuesday with aggravated sexual assault for molesting a child while serving in North Texas, police said. He was arrested Wednesday.

Richard Thomas Brown had a warrant issued against him by police for allegedly molesting a child on July 5, 1989. He served at five North Texas churches for 22 years and was reportedly defrocked recently by the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.

The Dallas police issued a list of 31 Catholic priests last year indicating their involvement in child abuse after raiding the offices of the diocese. Brown is the first one among them to be charged, according to the Associated Press.

The unidentified victim accused Brown of sexually assaulting her over several months in the 1980s at Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church in Irving. The victim’s aunt e-mailed the diocese in 2018 to report the incident which sparked the present case against Brown.

Brown befriended the family during the summer and urged them to allow their minor children to stay with him in his apartment. The victim recalled being penetrated in the anus by Brown, WFAA reported, citing the police affidavit.

The church officials reportedly became privy to the allegations against Brown shortly after the incident occurred. They then continued to transfer Brown from one parish to another. He reportedly admitted to Dallas police last year of molesting at least 50 children ever since he was ordained.