Local priest involved in Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Lawsuit

Daisy Garcia Montoya
Editorial Assistant


A priest who served at Holy Cross Catholic Church on St. John Avenue is involved in one of two new sexual abuse lawsuits against the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph.


The lawsuit, filed July 20, 2020 in Jackson County Circuit Court, alleges that Rev. Darvin Salazar sexually assaulted the unnamed plaintiff, age 25, in July 2018. The lawsuit alleges that the diocese had received previous reports regarding Salazar from at least five other individuals but chose not to remove him as a priest until the July 2018 allegations.


The ten-count indictment includes allegations of battery, breach of special relationship, fraud, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to supervise clergy and false imprisonment.


In 2018, Salazar served Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Peace and Holy Cross, where the alleged rape occured. The lawsuit alleges that Salazar assaulted the victim in July 2018 in the rectory at Holy Cross, and prevented the victim from leaving.


Raised in a devout Roman Catholic family, the victim had been very involved with the religion and church and had served as an altar boy.


“Plaintiff’s academic, religious and social activities all revolved around his church,” according to the lawsuit. “At that time, Plaintiff’s faith was part of his upbringing. His heritage, sense of identity and belonging were rooted in the Catholic Church.”


After graduating from high school, the victim attended a parochial school where Salazar and other priests frequently visited, and he viewed Salazar as a mentor.


The lawsuit alleges that in July 2018, Salazar asked the victim to go to Holy Cross under the impression that spiritual counseling, comfort and advice would be provided. When the victim arrived, Salazar plied him with alcohol and began to attempt to seduce the student, the lawsuit said.


“Later that night, Fr. Salazar overpowered the plaintiff and forcibly sexually molested, assaulted, and raped the student in the rectory of Holy Cross Church,” according to the lawsuit. “Defendant Salazar locked the door to Plaintiff’s room, took his cell phone and prevented the Plaintiff from leaving the premises of Holy Cross Church and Parish before, during and after the sexual assault of Plaintiff.”


After the allegation in 2018, the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph released a statement which said that Salazar had been put on leave from all duties and remains under suspension without the authority to present himself as a priest.


In a September 2018 press release, the diocese said it was actively cooperating in a police investigation of that incident. All allegations against Salazar were presented to law enforcement but no criminal charges were made, the diocese said.


Since Salazar was put on leave in 2018, other adults have made additional reports to the diocese involving Salazar.


“Fr. Salazar is known to have chosen the most vulnerable Hispanic victims,” Rebecaa Randles, the victim’s attorney, said. “We believe several are afraid to report.”


Randles said that those who don’t feel comfortable going to the police to make a report are encouraged and welcome to contact her office for help.
According to Randles, Salazar’s whereabouts are unknown, although he cannot present himself as a priest.


“Salazar seems to be an especially shrewd predator and we suspect some of his victims don’t even realize that they’ve been sexually violated,” said David G. Clohessy, a clergy sex abuse survivor and director of the Missouri Chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). “We urge KC Bishop James Johnston to aggressively reach out to anyone with suspicions or knowledge of his wrongdoing and prod them to get help from independent sources like therapists, prosecutors, loved ones and support groups like ours.”

Want Northeast News articles sent straight to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
Enter your email address and click on the Get Instant Access button.
We respect your privacy

Comments are closed.

  • KC Media Collective

    May 24th, 2023
    by

    The group of nonprofit news outlets gathered at Independence Boulevard Christian Church on Thursday, May 18, for the first in […]


    PD Listening Session

    May 24th, 2023
    by

    Kansas City, MO Police Chief Stacey Graves sat down with a small group of Historic Northeast community leaders to discuss […]


    KCPD Press Conference:

    May 24th, 2023
    by

    KCPD officers and community partners gather to speak at the press conference. Riyana Parks-Shaw speaks on distributing money to community […]


    Frontier School’s annual Multicultural Festival returns to celebrate culture and diversity

    May 24th, 2023
    by

    Daisy Garcia-MontoyaEducation Reporter After a three year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families and students gathered on Saturday, May […]


    Affordable units coming to historic Paseo buildings

    May 24th, 2023
    by

    Abby HooverManaging Editor The Twelfth Street Heritage Development Corporation (TSHDC) plans to open the first of 11 Jazz Hill apartment […]


    Anual Festival Multicultural de Frontier Schools regresar a celebrar culturas y diversidad

    May 24th, 2023
    by

    Daisy Garcia-MontoyaEducation Reporter Después de tres años de no poder albergar el festival debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, familias […]


    Motorcyclist dies in crash near Truman Rd and Indiana

    May 22nd, 2023
    by

    A motorcycle driver is dead following a crash early this morning. Emergency crews responded to Truman Road and Indiana Avenue […]


    All Gussied Up!

    May 20th, 2023
    by

    Volunteers and Trustees of Elmwood Cemetery took advantage of stellar weather Saturday to make sure the 147 year old cemetery […]


    Jackson County COMBAT celebrates 30 years

    May 17th, 2023
    by

    Abby HooverManaging Editor Jackson County COMBAT, a tax funded organization that grants money to organizations working to create a strong, […]


  • Northeast News celebrates reporter’s academic success

    May 17th, 2023
    by

    Abby HooverManaging Editor Northeast News Education Intern Daisy Garcia Montoya completed her Masters in Public Administration – Urban Policy (MPA) […]


    New orchard planted in Maple Park

    May 17th, 2023
    by

    Michael BushnellPublisher “When it’s cherry blossom time in Orange, New Jersey, we’ll make a peach of a pear.” While those […]


    May is Mental Health Awareness Month

    May 17th, 2023
    by

    Sponsored content Sarah Getch, PhD, Program Director/Associate Professor of Health Service Psychology at Kansas City University has a few ideas […]


    Shooting now ruled a homicide

    May 16th, 2023
    by

    On Sunday, May 7th, just before 6:15pm, Kansas City, MO Police officers were called to the area of 12th street […]


    Mulch fire has crews working around the clock

    May 16th, 2023
    by

    By Grace Kertz, Editorial Intern Another cloudy day in the Northeast… or is it? Residents throughout the Northeast have reported […]


    Charges filed in Northeast dog attack

    May 11th, 2023
    by

    Charges have been filed in Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Court against the owners of two dogs that attacked three people […]


    New short-term rental regulations a win for urban neighborhoods

    May 10th, 2023
    by

    Abby HooverManaging Editor After months of advocacy by neighborhood leaders and residents, Kansas City has passed stricter rules for non-owner […]


    Historic cemetery hosts first Elmwood Bike Rodeo

    May 10th, 2023
    by

    Abby HooverManaging Editor The Missouri Active Outdoors Foundation and Elmwood Cemetery invited families to join them for the first annual […]


    Art As Mentorship supports young artists through summer programs

    May 10th, 2023
    by

    Abby HooverManaging Editor UPDATE: As of May 16, the May 21 concert at Knuckleheads has been postponed until July 15 […]


  • Northeast Newscast


  • Remember This?

    Remember This?

    May 24th, 2023
    by

  • Want articles sent directly to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
    We respect your privacy and will not distribute your information.