New Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Diocese of Pueblo

PUEBLO, Colo., April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- A second lawsuit has been filed against the Diocese of Pueblo alleging that a child was sexually abused by the Diocesan Youth Director, Fr. Daniel Maio, during the late 1960s.

John Doe No. 24 v. Bishop of Pueblo was filed Monday in Pueblo County District Court.  It alleges that John Doe No. 24 was sexually abused by Maio at age 17 while John Doe was a member of Maio's youth group, SEARCH.  During his membership in the youth group, Maio plied him with drugs and alcohol in Maio's residence at St. Patrick's parish, along with other boys from the youth group.  The abuse of John Doe No. 24 consisted of fondling and simulated sexual intercourse.  

Two weeks ago, Yengich v. Bishop of Pueblo (Case No. 2010CV452) was filed on behalf of another of Maio's victims.  The Plaintiff in that lawsuit, John Yengich, alleges he was sexually abused by Maio during an 18 month period.  He too was regularly plied by Maio with drugs and alcohol.  

Maio eventually left ministry and remained in the Colorado Springs area.  He died in 2006.  His obituaries conspicuously omitted the fact that he had been a priest.  He is believed to have been ordained in 1966.  The lawsuit alleges he left ministry in 1974 under suspicious circumstances, and that the Diocese of Pueblo concealed from parishioners the fact that Maio had been accused of molesting kids.    

The Plaintiff's attorney, Adam Horowitz, of the Miami firm Mermelstein & Horowitz, said, "When we filed the first lawsuit, it gave other victims the courage to come forward to seek vindication and healing.  I anticipate that we will be filing more lawsuits involving Fr. Maio and his work in the Diocese of Pueblo.  There are more victims of Fr. Maio who have not yet come forward, and I hope that John Doe's courage will let them know it is safe to finally reveal the truth."

A copy of the lawsuit is available at http://jessicaarbour.blogspot.com.    

SOURCE Mermelstein & Horowitz, P.A.