Arrest Made in 40 Year Old Sexual Abuse Case

CONTACT:
Lt. Luke Bock
563-589-4473, lbock@cityofdubuque.org

04/23/24 -- For Immediate Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa – 

On 05/15/23, the Dubuque Police Department was contacted by the Archdiocese of Dubuque’s Office for the Protection of Children, a division of their Human Resources Department, regarding reports they had received of "cold cases" of sexual abuse that occurred in Dubuque in the 1980s.  

Four (4) separate individuals reported being sexually abused by Father Leo Patrick Riley (DOB 03/30/56), currently of Port Charlotte, Florida, from 1984-1986 while  Riley was the associate pastor of Resurrection Parish in Dubuque. The victims were all identified as grade school-aged boys, all serving as altar boys of Resurrection Parish.  

After a thorough investigation, criminal charges were completed on 04/24/24 for five (5) counts of 2^nd Degree Sexual Abuse against Riley.  Dubuque Police investigators coordinated with Charlotte County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, leading to Riley’s arrest in Port Charolotte on 04/24/24. Riley is being held at Charlotte County Jail awaiting extradition to Dubuque.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, please call Dubuque Police Department Corporal Isaiah Hoff at 563-589-4429, or non-emergency dispatch at 563-589-4415.

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