Lawyer: Diocese of Fall River ignored 2013 allegations against now-on-leave priest

Eli Sherman and Jake Holter

51 minutes ago

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — A well-known lawyer said Wednesday that his client made allegations of sexual misconduct against the Rev. Jay Mello in 2013, but that the diocese didn't take his accusations seriously until last year.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River announced Sunday that Mello had been placed on administrative leave after an internal investigation found “sufficient evidence” of sexual misconduct warranting further review. (The alleged conduct does not involve a minor.)

At a news conference Wednesday, attorney Mitchell Garabedian said his client was a victim and that the diocese ignored the original accusations he made against Mello more than a decade ago. Garabedian's client, who has not been named, and Mello were both adults at the time.

“My client at the time was 28 years old,” said Garabedian, who joined the news conference via Zoom, adding that he knew of one additional victim and suggesting there could be more.

“He was an adult,” Garabedian said. “He trusted Father Mello and Father Mello took advantage of him sexually.”

Diocesan officials said Mello denied the allegations, and Fall River police confirmed she was not involved in the case at this time. No criminal charges have been announced.

Garabedian said his client reported the alleged behavior in 2013 to Acushnet police, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Garabedian also said his client may not be able to file a lawsuit against the church because of Massachusetts' statutes of limitations related to sexual assault, and he called on people to reach out first to the police if they have problems with clergy.

Garabedian has represented numerous victims of clergy sexual abuse and is best known for being portrayed by actor Stanley Tucci in the 2016 Oscar-winning film “Spotlight.”

“If anyone knows of someone who was sexually assaulted as an adult or child by a priest, report it to the police,” he said.

Diocese officials said they were continuing their internal investigation into Mello to determine whether he violated a church code of conduct. The findings will be presented to the Ministerial Review Committee, which advises the bishop on allegations of clergy misconduct.

Mello became pastor of St. Michael and St. Joseph parishes in 2016, but Garabedian said he was replacing St. Francis Xavier at Acushnet in 2013 when the first alleged encounter occurred. Garabedian said his client and Mello met at a convocation and shared a common interest in cooking.

Garabedian alleged that Mello then invited his client to the rectory, where the alleged meeting took place.

“It is incumbent upon the Diocese of Fall River to take over the investigation regarding my client,” he said.

Diocesan officials said Mello was ordered not to publicly exercise his priestly ministry and that they were currently seeking a temporary replacement for the churches. The mass schedule should not be affected, they said.