Priest sues Fresno diocese for defamatory comments in sexual misconduct investigation
A Central Valley priest is suing the Fresno Diocese for defamation, a week after prosecutors declined to file criminal charges in connection with the same case.
The lawsuit was announced Thursday in a news release issued by Monsignor Craig Harrison’s attorney. The lawsuit names as defendants Teresa Dominguez, chancellor at the diocese, and the Diocese of Fresno.
Dominguez didn’t immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.
Harrison was placed on administrative leave in late April last year when an adult male accused Harrison of inappropriately touching him at least three different times when he was a teenage altar boy in the late 1980s or early 90s at St. Joseph Church in Firebaugh.
The lawsuit, filed in Kern County Superior Court, accuses Dominguez of making defamatory comments about Harrison in a May 19, 2019, KQED article.
According to the lawsuit, Dominguez was quoted in the article saying other alleged victims had come forward with allegations against Harrison.
“Two allege Harrison inspected their genitals under similar circumstances,” the lawsuit outlines as one of the defamatory comments. “Another alleges Harrison pinned him against the wall and rubbed his erect penis against his body through clothing.”
Dominguez, according to the lawsuit, told one of the alleged victims she believed him and would “support him and be an advocate for him.”
The lawsuit describes Dominguez’s comments as “false, defamatory, libelous and slanderous,” and says Harrison suffered anxiety, shame, humiliation and mortification.”
Harrison is seeking unspecified “economic” and “non-economic” and punitive damages for medical costs, damage to his reputation and “impairment of earning capacity,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit comes six days after the Fresno County District’s Attorney’s Office said no charges would be filed against Harrison because the statute of limitations had expired. However, the prosecutor’s office also said investigators found the sexual abuse allegations credible.
In November, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office also said it wouldn’t file charges against Harrison because the statute of limitations had run out. In July, the Bakersfield Police Department decided not to recommend charges against Harrison in its jurisdiction.
Church officials have not said whether Harrison remains on leave.
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