Despite ‘credible’ abuse allegations, Diocese of Fresno priest won’t be charged, says DA
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office on Friday announced it’s unable to file charges against a Diocese of Fresno priest accused of sexual assault because the statute of limitations has expired.
Still, the office pointed out investigators found the allegations against Monsignor Craig Harrison to be credible, according to a news release.
In mid-November, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office said it wouldn’t file charges against Harrison for the same reason. In July, the Bakersfield Police Department decided not to recommend charges.
Harrison was placed on administrative leave in late April after allegations of sexual misconduct came to light. The diocese wasn’t immediately able to comment late Friday on Harrison’s current status.
“While the allegations made against Monsignor Harrison appear credible to investigators, they reportedly occurred in the 1990s. These allegations were not reported to law enforcement until April of 2019,” the Fresno County DA’s Office said in a statement.
“Delayed reporting is not uncommon in sexual assault cases, but it can limit the ability to criminally charge and prosecute offenders.”
A different statute of limitations may apply for civil actions. Alleged victims of sexual abuse are now able to sue the diocese under the state’s new Child Victims Act. The law gives adult survivors, now up to the age of 40 and who have recently discovered their abuse, five years to sue.
The Diocese of Fresno was served with two such lawsuits in January.
The allegation of sexual abuse reported in Fresno County was initially investigated by Firebaugh Police Department. The alleged abuse was reported in April by an adult male.
Firebaugh police said the person reporting the allegations said he was inappropriately touched when he was around 16 or 17 years old. He said the alleged misconduct happened on three separate occasions when he was an altar boy at St. Joseph Church.
“The District Attorney’s Office remains committed to prosecuting all sexual assault offenses, especially those directed at our most vulnerable citizens and where perpetrators abuse their positions of trust,” the release said.
“However, we are prevented from proceeding with criminal prosecutions when doing so is prohibited by the statute of limitations.”
While various diocese have released a list of priests accused of sexual abuse, the Diocese of Fresno has yet to name priests who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct.
This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 6:05 PM.
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