Former H.B. priest charged with molestation

A former Huntington Beach priest has been arrested again on charges he molested a boy in his Costa Mesa congregation, and this time prosecutors say the charges will stick.

Denis Lyons, 75, was arrested Monday afternoon and is due in court Aug. 11 on four counts of sexually abusing a boy under 14 years old with sentencing enhancements for the severity of the incidents, all dating back to between 1992 and 1995. The alleged incidents occurred at St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Costa Mesa.

Lyons, who formerly served at St. Mary’s By the Sea Catholic Church in Huntington Beach and lives in Leisure World in Seal Beach, escaped prosecution in 2003 on charges he molested three other boys when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law prosecuting old sexual abuse cases. Those charges were dropped because the abuse allegedly occurred between 1978 and 1981, prosecutors said.

The court prohibited an infinite statute of limitations regarding molestation cases. Any sexual assault before the current California law passed in 1994 had a six-year statute of limitations.

Jonathan Kirrer, 24, sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange earlier this year but quickly settled the case after going public with the allegations. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

A spokesman for St. Mary’s By the Sea declined comment Wednesday, but Ryan Lilyengren, a spokesman for the diocese, said in a statement that Lyons was removed from the ministry April 24, 2002, and “committed to a life of prayer and penance.”

“The Diocese of Orange has cooperated fully with law enforcement during their investigation and will continue to do so,” Lilyengren said. “We remain committed to ensuring the events of the past are never repeated and encourage all to pray for the victims of sexual abuse and their families.”

Lyons is accused of twice masturbating the boy when he was between 7 and 9 years old in Lyons’ room in the parish rectory and twice in the church sacristy. The allegations from one of the boys in the 2003 case will be used as corroborating evidence in the current case, prosecutors said.

Costa Mesa police, with assistance from district attorney investigators, arrested Lyons on Monday while he played cards at a community center.

Lyons faces four counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 with a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct on a child. He faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted on all charges and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

“Molestation is a devastating crime. Even more so when it’s done by a person of authority and trust,” said Costa Mesa police Capt. Ron Smith. “We’re concerned there could be more victims out there.”

Anyone with more information or who believes he or she might have been a victim is urged to call prosecution investigator Tim Craig at (714) 347-8558 or Costa Mesa police Det. Mike Manson at (714) 754-5360.