West Virginia Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

West Virginia Sexual Abuse Assault Information West Virginia’s current criminal and civil statute of limitations (SOL) laws are fairly friendly to survivors of childhood sexual abuse. For felonies, the criminal SOL has been eliminated. The civil SOL for childhood sexual abuse is capped at age 36, which is also the cut-off age for the revival window the state opened in 2020. Civil SOL laws enable lawyers handling sexual abuse claims in West Virginia to file cases against sexual predators, including clergy members, and the Catholic Church.

Below you will find West Virginia lawsuit news & updates, as well as additional information on West Virginia’s statute of limitations laws. These laws are important because they dictate how long a lawyer handling West Virginia sexual assault cases has to file a claim on behalf of a survivor. In addition, we’ve compiled a list of West Virginia settlements received by sexual abuse and assault survivors and a list of West Virginia’s ‘credibly’ accused priests released by the West Virginia’s Diocese.

West Virginia Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse & Assault

West Virginia’s civil and criminal statute of limitations (SOL) laws are somewhat victim friendly. Currently, there is no criminal SOL for felonies related to childhood sexual abuse. While the state did open a revival window for previously expired claims of childhood sexual abuse, it capped the age at which those claims could be brought at age 36.

Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws for West Virginia

In West Virginia, there is no criminal SOL for felonies related to child sexual abuse. The criminal SOL for misdemeanors is one year after the abuse occurred. Child USA, who has evaluated every state based on its criminal statute of limitations laws, gave West Virginia 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 an elimination of the criminal SOL for some/all felonies.

Civil Statute of Limitations Laws for West Virginia

In West Virginia, the civil SOL for child sex abuse claims is capped at age 36 against all types of defendants. The state also has a discovery rule of 4 years against perpetrators of the sexual abuse. West Virginia passed a revival law in which previously expired claims against any type of defendant can be filed until a survivor reaches age 36. Child USA, who has also evaluated every state based on its civil statute of limitations laws, gave West Virginia a Civil SOL Age Cap letter grade of D, on the traditional A-F scale, where A is the best. A letter grade of D is defined as a civil SOL age cap between ages 35-49.

Additionally, Child USA gave West Virginia a Revival Law letter grade of C on the same A-F scale. A letter grade of C is defined as a revival window or revival up to age 30-54 , and the law is not explicitly for claims against all types of defendants.

If you or someone you love was sexually abused or assaulted in West Virginia, contact us now. Due to West Virginia’s revival window, those sexually abused as a minor may still have a claim against their abuser, depending on how long ago the abuse occurred. Even if the abuser is deceased, you may still have a claim against the organization responsible.

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Go to our main sexual abuse page to learn more about the process of filing a clergy sexual abuse claim.

West Virginia Sexual Abuse Settlements

August 2019 – The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston reached a confidential settlement with a former personal altar server who claimed ex-Bishop Michael Bransfield sexually assaulted him in 2014 and harassed him for years prior. This was not the first time Bransfield had been accused of sexual abuse.

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 West Virginia 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.

West Virginia Catholic Diocese Release Names of Clergy Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of Children

The Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has released the names of priests and clergy members who they deemed to be ‘credibly accused’ of sexual abuse of a child.

The list below will be updated as litigation or investigations are concluded so that new names of credibly accused priests in West Virginia can be added.

Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Credibly Accused Priest List

wdt_ID	Last Name	First Name	Diocese/ Order	Clergy Status	Assignments
1	Bauer Jr.	Carl E.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 2015	Parkersburg – St. Margaret Mary 06/1963 – 06/1966; Parkersburg Catholic High School –Principal 06/1966 – 06/1969; Wheeling – Seminary House of Studies 06/1969 – 07/1974; Wheeling – Our Lady of Peace 07/1974 –09/1985; Pursglove – St. Ursula 09/1985 – 02/1994; Star City – St. Mary 09/1985 – 06/2002
2	Bowski	Eugene R.	MSsA	Faculties withdrawn 2014	Franklin – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 06/1980 –03/25/1982
3	Brown	Lawrence (Larry) D.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 1993	Weirton – St. Paul 05/1970 – 12/1971; Wheeling – St. Joseph Cathedral 12/1971 – 06/1977; Wheeling – WV Northern Community College – Chaplain 08/1972 – 06/1977; Salem – Sacred Heart 06/1977 – 06/1982; West Union – St. Patrick 06/1977 – 06/1982; Salem – Salem College – Chaplain 06/1977 – 06/1982; St. Albans – St. Francis of Assisi 06/1982 – 05/1984; Leave of absence 05/1984 – 01/1985; Parkersburg – St. Margaret Mary 01/1985 – 04/1985
4	Carr	William	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 1984	Princeton – Sacred Heart 03/1941 – 12/1948; Clarksburg – St. John the Baptist 03/1950 (2 weeks); Parkersburg – St. Francis Xavier 1950 (3 weeks); St. Clara – St. Clare 04/1950 – 05/1963; Bluefield – Sacred Heart 05/1963 – 08/1971
5	Chetock	James Joseph	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Faculties suspended 2005	Parkersburg – St. Margaret Mary 11/1993 – 01/1995; Weirton – St. Joseph the Worker 01/1995 – 06/1997; Charles Town – St. James 06/1997 – 01/1998; Fort Ashby – Annunciation of Our Lord 01/1998 – 06/2002; Ridgeley – St. Anthony 01/1998 – 06/2002; Vienna – St. Michael 06/2002 – 06/2005; Leave of absence 06/2005 – 07/2005
6	Condron	Patrick Anthony	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Laicized 2012	Moundsville – St. Francis Xavier 07/1976 – 10/1977; Parkersburg – St. Francis Xavier 10/1977 – 08/1980; Vienna – St. Joseph Prep Seminary 08/1980 – 06/1987; Bethany College – Chaplain 06/1987 – 06/1992; West Liberty State College – Chaplain 06/1988 – 06/1992; Morgantown – St. Theresa 06/1992 – 06/1994; Wheeling – St. Alphonsus 06/1994 – 01/1995; Wheeling – St. Mary 06/1994 – 01/1995; Leave of absence 01/1995 – 08/1995; Graduate Studies – Catholic University 08/1995 – 06/1997; Wheeling – St. Alphonsus 06/1997 – 03/2005; Wheeling – Diocesan Tribunal 09/1997 – 02/1998; Wheeling Catholic Elementary School – Pastor 09/1998 – 11/2001; Paul VI Pastoral Center – In Residence 03/2005 – 03/2006
7	Frobas	Victor	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 1993	St. Albans – St. Francis of Assisi 07/1965 – 06/1966; Wheeling – Corpus Christi 06/1966 – 05/1967; Huntington – Our Lady of Fatima 05/1967 – 10/1967; Fairmont – St. Peter 10/1967 – 06/1968; Wheeling – St. Joseph Cathedral 06/1968 – 11/1970; Wheeling – Catholic Committee on Scouting – Chaplain 1969; Wellsburg – St. John the Evangelist 11/1970 – 02/1972; Wheeling – Diocesan Director of Scouting 1971; Huttonsville – St. John Bosco 02/1972 – 01/1976; Huttonsville – Camp Tygart – Director 02/1972 – 01/1976; Leave of absence 01/1976 – 10/1976; Wheeling – Mount St. Joseph - Chaplain 10/1976 – 10/1977; Wheeling Central Catholic High School – Chaplain 08/1977 – 10/1977; Moundsville – St. Francis Xavier 10/1977 – 02/1978; Leave of absence 02/1978 – 1980; Weirton – St. Paul 1980 – 07/1982; Wheeling – Chancery 07/1982 – 10/1982; Farmington – St. Peter 10/1982 – 12/1982; Fairmont – Immaculate Conception 12/1982 – 06/1983; Leave of absence 06/1983 – 07/1993
8	Hannan	Rogers	Society of the Divine Word	Convicted and serving 2-10 years in jail	Welch – St. Peter 2001 – 2012; War – Christ the King Parish 2004 – 2012
9	Lukas	Andrew F.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 2012	Benwood – St. John 11/04/1958 – 06/13/1959; Vienna – St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary 06/12/1964 – 08/01/1966; Camden – St. Boniface 08/01/1966 – 06/06/1968; Fairmont – St. Joseph 06/06/1968 – 11/05/1975; Monongah – Holy Spirit 11/05/1975 – 06/22/1994
10	MacSweeney	Patrick J.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 1967	Follansbee – St. Anthony 03/08/1955 – 03/26/1955; Charleston – St. Agnes 03/1955 – 10/1962; Weston – St. Patrick 10/1962 – 06/1963; Shinnston – St. Anne 06/1963
11	McCallister	Charles E.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 2007	Fairmont – Immaculate Conception 05/1971 – 08/1971; Clarksburg – Immaculate Conception 08/1971 – 05/1972; Wheeling – Chancery 05/1972 – 09/1972; Washington, D.C. – Catholic University – Student 09/1972 – 05/1973; Wheeling – Chancery 1973 – 1994; Leave of absence 08/1994 – 06/1995; Wheeling – Paul VI Pastoral Center 08/1994 – 12/1998; Clarksburg – Immaculate Conception 10/2003
12	Owino	Felix	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deported back to Africa	Wheeling Jesuit University 2008 – 2010; Weirton – St. Paul Parish 06/2009 – 07/2010
13	Pichette	David A.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Departed DWC 1988 and Syracuse in 1994	Center Point – Nazareth Farm 06/1979 – 09/1988
14	Rooney	Robert J.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 1994	White Sulphur Springs – St. Charles Borromeo 06/1954 – 10/1954; Ronceverte – St. Catherine of Sienna 06/1954 – 10/1954; Huntington – St. Joseph 10/1954 – 12/1958; Leave of absence 01/1959 – 08/1959; Fairmont – St. Peter’s 08/1959 – 01/1960; Chester – Sacred Heart 01/1960 – 09/1960; Beckley – St. Francis de Sales 09/1960 – 12/1960; Military Ordinariate – 02/1961 – 10/1961; Coalton – St. Patrick 10/1961 – 02/1963; Leave of absence – 02/1963 – 09/1975; War – Christ the King 09/1975 – 07/1976; Camden – St. Boniface 07/1976 – 09/1977; Leave of absence starting 09/16/1977
15	Roscetti	Francis	Order of Friars Minor	Deceased 1991	Cap. Ridgeley – St. Anthony 1967 – 1972 – (Diocese of Richmond during that timeframe). Archdiocese of Baltimore
16	Schaefer	Richard	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 1998	Huntington – St. Joseph 09/1962 – 06/1963; Fairmont – St. Peter 06/1963 – 06/1966; Fairmont – Newman Club – Chaplain 06/1965 – 06/1966; Point Pleasant – Sacred Heart 06/1966 – 08/1966; Wheeling Hospital – Chaplain 08/1966 – 05/1967; Rowlesburg – St. Philomena 05/1967 – 08/1971; Dunbar – Christ the King 08/1971 – 08/1976; Sistersville – Holy Rosary 08/1976 – 07/1981; Paden City – Mater Dolorosa 07/1981 – 04/1986; Middlebourne – St. Lawrence 07/1981 – 04/1986; Sistersville – Holy Rosary 09/1984 – 04/1986
17	Schwarten	Paul J.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Deceased 1995	Weston – St. Patrick 05/1943 – 09/1950; Ronceverte – St. Catherine of Sienna 1950; White Sulphur Springs – St. Charles Borromeo 09/1950 – 05/1951; Leave of absence 05/01/1951 – 09/1964; Fairmont – St. Peter 09/1964 – 12/1965; Leave of absence 12/1965 – 02/1967; Moundsville – St. Francis Xavier 02/1967 – 04/1969; Sistersville – Holy Rosary 04/1969 – 07/1981; St. Marys – St. John 1972 – 06/1981; Logan – Our Lady of Mount Carmel 07/1981 – 06/1987
18	Tague	Charles	S.T.	Deceased 2003	Wheeling – St. Joan of Arc 07/1964 – 09/1985
19	Tuchalski	Stanley	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston	Faculties suspended 2002	Weirton – St. Paul 06/1990 – 06/1993; Westover – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 06/1993 – 01/1998; Pursglove – St. Ursula 02/1994 – 01/1998; Fairmont – St. Peter 01/1998 – 01/2000; Leave of absence 01/2000 – 08/2000; Catholic University 08/2000 – 07/2002
20	Waldruff	Raymond	Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance	Deceased 1985	Camden – St. Boniface 02/1972 – 07/1976; St. Clara – St. Clare 02/1972 – 07/1976; Fink – Holy Name of Mary 02/1972 – 07/1976
21	Becker	Franklyn W.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Dismissed from clerical state 2004	Huntington – Marshall University Catholic Community-Chaplain 01/1975 – 08/1976; Huntington – St. Joseph 01/10/1975 – 08/1/1976
22	Biene	James	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Dismissed from clerical state 2005	Huntington – St. Joseph Central High School – Teacher 1979 – 03/1981; Huntington – Sacred Heart – In Residence 03/1981 – 10/1981
23	Bonacci	Louis	Society of Jesus	Permanently removed from ministry 2011	Wheeling Jesuit University – Campus Ministry 06/1999 – 2003
24	Bourbon	Francis C.	Society of Jesus	Deceased 2007	Wheeling Jesuit University 1992 – 1993; Weirton – St. Paul’s 1993 – 1994; Wayne – Nativity of Our Lord 1994 – 1996; Wheeling Jesuit University 1996 – 2003
25	Brady	Martin D.	Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance	Deceased 2003	Fort Ashby – Annunciation of Our Lord 06/1986 – 05/1990; Ridgeley – St. Anthony 06/1986 – 05/1990; Stonewood – Our Lady of Perpetual Help 05/1990 – 06/1997
26	Butler	John R.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Removed from ministry 2002	Keyser – Assumption – Associate1968 – 1969; Petersburg – St. Mary – Assistant 1968 – 1969; Romney – Our Lady of Grace – Assistant 1968 – 1969 (Diocese of Richmond during that timeframe).
27	Cullen	Robert B.	Society of Jesus	Deceased 2005	Wheeling – Central Catholic High School 1982 – 1983; Wheeling Jesuit College 1983 – 1990
28	Demblowski	Charles	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Deceased 1989	Middlebourne – St. Lawrence 1985-1986
29	Findlay	Harris M.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Deceased 1980	Martinsburg – St. Joseph – Assistant 1949 – 1953; Pastor 06/1996 – 12/1967 (Diocese of Richmond during that timeframe)
30	Gage	Phillip	Society of Mary	Departed Diocese 1981	Wheeling – St. Vincent de Paul 1979-1981
31	Guli	Gerard J.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Laicized by the Diocese of Rochester	Huntington – Our Lady of Fatima 06/1963 – 01/1964; Huntington – St. Joseph 01/1964 – 06/1965; Sistersville – Holy Rosary 06/1965 – 08/1966; Fairmont – St. Peter 08/1966 – 10/1967
32	Hopkins	James H.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Deceased 1961	Wheeling – St. Joseph Cathedral Assistant 09/1949 – 06/1950; St. Francis Xavier – Moundsville 06/1950 – 08/1961
33	Horan	Edward J.	Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity	Departed Diocese 1993	Purgitsville – The Vineyard 07/1992 – 03/1993
34	Krakovsky	Reginald	Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance	Deceased 1997	Romney – Our Lady of Grace 09/1991 – 04/1992
35	Lukac	Raymond	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Deceased 2000	Clarksburg – Immaculate Conception 01/1964 – 08/1966; Clarksburg – Veterans Administration Hospital – Chaplain 01/1964 – 08/1966; Wheeling – St. Joseph Cathedral 08/1966 – 01/1967
36	McCaa	Francis	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Departed Diocese 1992	Martinsburg – Veterans Administration Hospital – Chaplain 03/1986 – 1992
37	McConnell	James H	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Deceased 1969	Berkley Springs – St. Vincent de Paul Rector 01/1932 – 08/1937. (Diocese of Richmond during that timeframe)
38	Poandl	Robert	Glenmary Home Missioners	Deceased 2019	No assignment
39	Rea	John W.	Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (assignment)	Deceased 2002	Martinsburg – St. Joseph – Associate 05/1973 – 08/1974 (Diocese of Richmond during that timeframe)
40	Wolski	Adalbert	Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance	Deceased 2012	Romney – Our Lady of Grace 05/1990 – 09/1991; Moorefield – Epiphany of the Lord 01/1991 – 07/1991

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.

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West Virginia Sexual Abuse Lawsuits: News & Updates

WV Supreme Court Rules on CCPA Law and Clergy Abuse

In a narrow decision, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled the Consumer Credit and Protection Act (CCPA) does not apply to services provided by a religious institution. Click the headline to read more…