Florida priest accused of sexual battery, deputies searching for more victims
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Catholic priest out of Charlotte County is behind bars after deputies arrested him on five counts of capital sexual battery.
Leo P. Riley, 68, was previously a priest at the Resurrection Church in Dubuque, Iowa, before moving to Port Charlotte in the early 2000s, where he became a priest at Saint Charles Borromeo. His most recent assignment was at San Antonio Catholic Church.
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Riley was arrested on Wednesday at his Port Charlotte home. He is accused of capital sexual battery on altar boys from his time in Iowa, in the 1980s. After his arrest, a Charlotte County man came forward with sexual abuse allegations from the 2000s following Riley’s transfer to Florida.
“If the accusations are true, then we have had a sexual predator living among us in Charlotte County that was trusted by far too many people simply because of his position,” Sheriff Bill Prummell said. “It is likely that there are more victims, and I encourage them to come forward so that we can make sure this type of heinous thing does not happen to anyone else here. It doesn’t matter when it happened; but what does matter is that the truth needs to be shared and justice needs to be served. We stand with you.”
Riley was taken to the Charlotte County Jail.
Deputies believe there could be more victims. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 941-639-2101.
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