On April 30, 2021 Arkansas legislators passed new statute of limitations laws. These laws enable lawyers handling sexual abuse claims in Arkansas to file cases against sexual predators, including clergy members, that may previously have been time-barred. Arkansas’ revival window opened on February 1, 2022 and will close on January 31, 2024.
Arkansas Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse & Assault
Arkansas has made improvements to its criminal SOL laws in recent years and also made significant changes to their civil SOL laws in April of 2021.
Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws for Arkansas
In 2013, Arkansas eliminated the criminal SOL for all sexual abuse felonies including: rape, sex assault, incest, pornography, and other sex crimes. 2013 marked the most important criminal SOL reform legislation the state has passed for sexual abuse survivors. Child USA, who has evaluated every state based on their criminal statute of limitation laws, gave Arkansas a Criminal SOL letter grade of C, on the traditional A-F scale, where A is the best. A letter grade of C is defined as a criminal SOL eliminated for some/all felonies only.
Civil Statute of Limitations Laws for Arkansas
In 1993, Arkansas passed a law for survivors of child sex abuse allowing them to file claims against their abusers up to age 21 (age of majority, 18, plus 3 years) or from a 3-year ‘discovery’ rule, or 3 years from when the sexual abuse was first ‘remembered’ by a survivor. In April of 2021, Arkansas legislators passed the Justice for Vulnerable Victims of Sexual Abuse Act which greatly improved clergy abuse survivors’ rights. First, it extended the age cap to which victims of sexual abuse can bring a claim from 21 years of age to 55. In addition, on February 1, 2022, a two-year revival window opened allowing survivors of sexual abuse in Arkansas the ability to file claims against their perpetrators and the institutions responsible, regardless of whether or not their previous statute of limitations had expired.
Child USA, who has evaluated every state based on their civil statute of limitation laws, gave Arkansas a Civil SOL Age Cap letter grade of C, on the traditional A-F scale, where A is the best. A letter grade of C is defined as a civil SOL age cap of age 50 and older for survivors. In addition, Child USA gave Arkansas a Revival Law letter grade of B, on the same A-F scale. A letter grade of B is defined as ‘Revival window for 2 or more years or revival up to age 55, for claims against all type of defendants.
If you or someone you love was sexually abused or assaulted in Arkansas, contact us now. Those sexually abused as a minor likely still have a claim against their abuser, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. Even if the abuser is deceased, you may still have a claim against the organization responsible. Don’t wait to file your claim! The revival window in Arkansas will close on January 31, 2024.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock and the Society of Mary, or Marists, together have paid out more than $2 million to sexual abuse survivors from Arkansas. Below outlines the details of the compensation for survivors.
November 1993 – A federal jury awarded $1.5 million in damages to a sexual abuse survivor from Blytheville, Arkansas. The lawsuit originated from a claim that the plaintiff was sexually abused at Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas when she was 8 years old by Rev. Timothy Sugrue who was the chaplain at the base where her father was stationed.
June 2019 – The Diocese of Little Rock agreed to pay $790,000 to 5 survivors of sexual abuse committed by a diocesan priest in the 1970s. The survivors claimed they were sexually abused by Rev. John J. McDaniel at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock when they were students at the school. The attorney of the survivors had this to say regarding the settlement, “We are grateful to the survivors of Rev. John J. McDaniel who stepped forward, sought justice and exposed this predator. We believe that other victims of sexual violence will feel vindication because of their courage, and we hope this settlement brings them some measure of healing.”
*The settlements listed above are offered for educational purposes only and do not guarantee any future outcome or settlement. Each legal situation is different, and past performance does not guarantee future results. We do not maintain that is a full list of all settlements in the state of Arkansas but merely a grouping of those we choose to share on our website. Please contact us if you would like additional settlements included or if you notice any inaccuracies on our site. We strive to provide our viewers the most up to date and accurate information as possible.
Arkansas Catholic Church Clergy Credibly Accused List
According to its website, the Diocese of Little Rock states the following regarding the clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor, “This list is being published as part of the Diocese of Little Rock’s ongoing commitment to transparency and to encourage persons sexually abused by clergy or by anyone working on behalf of the Church to come forward. The individuals named in this list have served in Arkansas at some point in time, but that does not mean that they abused minors during their service here in Arkansas. In addition, although this list includes their assignments, that does not mean that there are allegations of abuse at each place.”
Diocese of Little Rock Credibly Accused Priest List
The following list on the Diocese of Little Rock’s website was last updated on February 8, 2019 and names the following priests as having been ‘credibly accused of sexually abusing minors in Arkansas’.
wdt_ID
Last Name
First Name
Year of Ordination/ Incardination
Clergy Status
Diocese/ Order
Assignments
# of Victims
1
Althoff
Donald
1982
Resigned and removed from active ministry (1995)
Little Rock
St. John-Hot Springs; (1982-1984), St. Michael-West Memphis, Sacred Heart-Crawfordsville; (1984-1988), St. Mary of the Lake-Horseshoe Lake; (1985-1988), Christ the King-Little Rock; (in residence 1989-1990), Little Rock Scripture Study Office, St. Francis-Little Italy; (1989-1990), St. Theresa-Little Rock; (1990-1992), Leave of Absence; (1992-1995)
1
2
Correnti
Joseph
1972
Deceased (2002)
Little Rock
Immaculate Conception-Fort Smith; (1972-1974), Our Lady of the Holy Souls-Little Rock; (1974-1978), St. Agnes-Mena, St. Jude-Waldron, All Saints-Mount Ida; (1978-1981), Diocesan Vocations Director and Director of Youth Ministries; (1981-1987), St. John Catholic Center-Little Rock; (in residence 1981-1982), St. Anne-North Little Rock; (1982), St. Boniface-New Dixie, and the missions St. Francis-Little Italy and Petit Jean; (1982-1983), St. Patrick-North Little Rock; (1983-1985), St. John-Russellville, St. Augustine-Dardanelle; (1985-1986), St. Anne-North Little Rock; (1986-1987), Holy Trinity Seminary-Irving-Texas; (1987-1989), St. Paul-Pocahontas; (1989-1991), Our Lady of the Holy Souls-Little Rock; (1991-1994), Leave of Absence; (1994-1995), St. Raphael-Springdale; (1996-2001), St. Joseph-Tontitown; (1995-death)
1+
3
Dagwell
Robert
1954
Deceased (1997); removed from active ministry in 1986
Little Rock
Immaculate Conception-Blytheville; (1954-1955), Blessed Sacrament-Jonesboro; (1955-1958), St. Boniface-Dixie; and the missions of St. Francis-Little Italy and St. Ann-Bigelow; (1958-1964), Immaculate Heart of Mary-Walnut Ridge; (1964-1971), St. Mary-McGehee, St. Mary-Dermott; (1971-1979), St. Mary-Helena; (1979-1984), St. Elizabeth-Eureka Springs, St. Anne-Berryville; (1984-1986),
1
4
McDaniel
John
1955
Deceased (1974)
Little Rock
St. John-Hot Springs; (1955-1957), Christ the King-Fort Smith; (1957-1960), Holy Redeemer-El Dorado; (1960-1963), Immaculate Conception-Blytheville; (1963-1966), St. John the Baptist-Malvern; (1966-1970), Our Lady of the Holy Souls-Little Rock; (1970-death)
1+
5
Mooney
Edward
1949
Deceased (2009); left active ministry in 1971; laicized in 1974
Little Rock
St. Michael-West Memphis; (1949-1951), Our Lady of the Holy Souls-Little Rock; (1951-1955), Immaculate Conception-Fort Smith; (1955-1956), St. Anne's Academy-Fort Smith; (1956-1960), Sr. Rose of Lima-Carlisle; (1960-1964), St. Mary-Hot Springs; (1963), Sr. Francis-Forrest City; (1964-1965), St. Elizabeth-Eureka Springs; (1965-1967), St. Matthew-Osceola, St. Norbert-Marked Tree; (1967-1968), St. Joseph-Pine Bluff; (1968-1969), Leave of Absence; (1969-1970), St. Louis-Camden; (1970), St. Mary-McGehee, St. Mary-Dermott; (1970), St. Patrick-North Little Rock; (1970-1971)
1+
6
Rajmund
Walter
1956
Deceased (1990)
Little Rock
Immaculate Conception-Fort Smith; (1956-1957), Our Lady of Good Counsel-Little Rock; (1957-1960), Immaculate Conception-Fort Smith; (1960-1962), Sts. Cyril and Methodius-Slovak; (1962-1963), Immaculate Conception-Fort Smith; (1963-1964), St. Mary-Hot Springs; (1964-1965), St. Matthew-Osceola; (1965-1967), St. John-Hot Springs; (1967-1971), St. Joseph-Fayetteville; (1971-1973), Our Lady of Good Hope-Hope, Immaculate Heart of Mary-Magnolia; (1973-1982), St. Michael-West Memphis, Sacred Heart-Crawfordsville; (1982-1984), St. Joseph Regional Medical Center-Hot Springs; (1984-1990)
1+
7
Torres
Robert
1966
Removed and resigned from priestly ministry (1994); laicized in 2015
Little Rock
St. John Seminary-Little Rock; (1966), Catholic High School-Little Rock; (1967-1974), Our Lady of Good Counsel-Little Rock; (in residence 1971), St. Mary-North Little Rock; (in residence 1971-1972), Cathedral of St. Andrew-Little Rock; (1972-1974), Immaculate Conception-North Little Rock; (1974), Our Lady of Good Counsel-Little Rock; (1975), Christ the King-Little Rock; (1976-1980), Sick Leave; (1980-1981), Christ the King-Little Rock; (1981-1982), St. John-Malvern, St. Mary-Arkadelphia; (1982-1984), St. Mary-North Little Rock; (1984-1989), St. Theresa-Little Rock; (1989), Sick Leave; (1989-1992), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton-AshdownOur Lady of Good Hope-Hope; (1992-1994)
1+
8
Haas
Paul
1959
Deceased (1979); served in Diocese of Little Rock, 1964-1965
Nashville
Catholic High School-Little Rock; (1964-1965),
1+
9
Fuhrmann
Nicholas
1954
Deceased (2019); permanently removed and barred from active ministry (2002)
Subiaco Abbey Religious Order
Subiaco Academy; (1954-1981), St. Mary-Windthorst-Texas; (1981-1983), St. Mary-Gainesville-Texas; (1984-1993), Subiaco Abbey; (1994-1995), St. Bernard Hospital-Jonesboro; (1996-2002),
1+
10
Hannon
Patrick
unknown
Deceased (1994)
Subiaco Abbey Religious Order
Unknown
1
11
Sugrue
Timothy
unknown
Dismissed from priesthood and religious life (2005)
Eaker Air Force Base-Blytheville; (1978-1979)
1
12
Walsh
Patrick
1952
Deceased (2011); suspended from all ministry by his religious order in 2004
St. Vincent Infirmary-Little Rock; (chaplain); (1976-1984)
1
13
Wright
Bill
unknown
Deceased (1990)
Glenmary Home Missioners
Holy Cross-Crossett; (1982-1986)
unknown
14
Zimmerer
Francis
unknown
Deceased (1983)
Subiaco Abbey Religious Order
Subiaco Academy; (1932-1933), Sacred Heart-Muenster-Texas; (1933-1940), St. Mary-Windthorst-Texas; (1940-1941), Army Chaplain in World War II; (1941-1945), Subiaco Academy; (1945-1949), St. Benedict-Subiaco; (1948), St. Scholastica-Shoal Creek / New Blaine; (1950-1951), St. Mary-Windthorst-Texas; (1952-1953), Subiaco Abbey; (1953), St. Teresa-Corpus Christi-Texas; (1954-1959), Counselor for Arkansas rehabilitation programs; (1960-1962), Sick Leave; (1963), St. Peter-Mount Clemens-Michigan; (1963-1966), Counselor in Little Rock prisons; (1966), Counselor for Arkansas rehabilitation program-Fort Smith; (1967), VA Hospital-Tomah-Wisconsin; (chaplain); (1968-1970), St. Stephen-Stevens Point-Wisconsin, St. Kilian-Blenker-Wisconsin; (1971), St. Joseph Hospital-Chippewa Falls-Wisconsin; (1972-1973), St. John the Baptist-Elgar-Wisconsin; (1974-1975), Assumption-Decatur-Texas; (1976-1981), Sts. Peter and Paul-Morrison Bluff; (1981-death), Resided at Marylake Monastery in Arkansas; (1992-1997) but conducted no public ministry while in residence in Arkansas.
1+
15
Benkhe
Thomas
unknown
Deceased (2008)
Order of Carmelites Discalced
Served as a temporary supply priest at St. John the Baptist Latin Mass Community in North Little Rock-Arkansas from Oct. 20-30-2007 with the required testimonial of suitability having been provided by the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
1+
16
Carr
Gary
unknown
Administrative Leave / Restricted from priestly ministry (2008)
Springfield-Cape Girardeau
St. Joseph-Conway; (1951-1952)
1
17
De Dominicis
Daniel
unknown
Deceased
Diocese of San Bernadino
Marylake Monastery; (1975-1981)
unknown
18
Hentrich
Gabriel
unknown
Deceased (1992)
Diocese of Dallas
Holy Cross-Crossett; (1990-1991)
unknown
19
Holmes
Albert
unknown
Deceased (2013)
Glenmary Home Missioners
St. Bartholomew-Little Rock; (1929-1946)
1+
20
Kinder
Conrad
unknown
Deceased (1978)
Diocese of Austin
St. Joseph-Pine Bluff; (1971-1973)
unknown
21
McCarthy
Kevin
unknown
Deceased (1992)
St. John, Newfoundland, Canada
Holy Cross-Crossett, St. Luke-Warren; (1973-1975) St. John-Brinkley; (1975) Our Lady of the Ozarks-Winslow; (1975-1992) St. Joseph-Conway; (1991-2001)
unknown
22
McKay
Anthony
1960
Deceased (2015); dismissed from priesthood and religious life in 2004
United Kingdom
A priest of Subiaco Abbey-Arkansas
10
23
Mitchell
Bede
unknown
Deceased (1983)
Subiaco Abbey Religious Order
unknown
24
Myers
Jeremy
1996
Unknown
Subiaco Abbey Religious Order & Diocese of Dallas
Little Rock Air Force Base, Jacksonville, which is under the Archdiocese for Military Services; (unknown dates)
unknown
25
Nicholson
Patrick J.L.
unknown
Prohibited from ministry in Archdiocese of Mobile
Archdiocese of Mobile
No formal assignments in Arkansas. Moved to Arkansas after retiring from the Diocese of Springfield in 1988, and lived in the Mountain Home area in retirement until his death. Conducted occasional fill-in sacramental ministry at St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home.
26
Schwellenbach
Aloysius
unknown
Deceased (2000)
Diocese of Springfield, Illinois
St. Bartholomew-Little Rock; (1971-1980)
unknown
27
Thorne
Vance
unknown
Deceased (2004)
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
1+
Click to view our larger list of accused priests. Here you can search by accused clergy first and last name, Parish/Diocese, city and state, and even by the years of their assignments.
Beginning in November, sexual abuse survivors in Arkansas will be able to file a civil suit against those responsible, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. Click the headline to read more…
On April 30, 2021 Arkansas legislators passed new statute of limitations laws. These laws enable lawyers handling sexual abuse claims in Arkansas to file cases against sexual predators, including clergy members, that may previously have been time-barred. Arkansas’ revival window opened on February 1, 2022 and will close on January 31, 2024.