Ordination: 1958

Notes: Fr. Denis Lyons has a history of sexual abuse allegations in Orange County, California. In 1993, he admitted to inappropriate behavior with two adults when he worked as pastor at St. John the Baptist in Costa Mesa. Fr. Lyons was placed on administrative leave in 2002. Fr. Lyons is believed to have been residing in Seal Beach, California in 2002. He was arrested in 2003 on charges he sexually abused a teenage boy in 1979 during counseling sessions at St. John the Baptist and during visits to the boy’s home. The charges were later dropped due to the statute of limitations. In 2008, a man filed a lawsuit alleging Fr. Lyons sexually abused him when he was a third grader at St. John the Baptist School from approximately 1994 to 1995. In 2009, Fr. Lyons was arrested on new charges of child sexual abuse. On March 23, 2012, Fr. Lyons pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to one year in jail, five years’ probation, and had to register as a sex offender. Fr. Lyons’ status per the Diocese of Orange’s website in 2016 was “Life of Prayer and Penance.” Fr. Lyons was included in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ list of priests accused of sexual misconduct involving minors. He was also included in the Diocese of Orange’s list of clergy removed from the ministry as a result of credible allegations of sexual abuse. According to the California Megan’s Law website, Fr. Lyons is believed to be residing in Los Angeles. Fr. Lyons’ current access to children is unknown. 

Assignments:

1959-1963 Holy Trinity, San Pedro, CA

1964-1970 St. Bernard’s, Bellflower, CA

1971-1974 St. Genevieve’s, Van Nuys, CA

1975-1977 St. Pius V, Buena Park, CA

1978 St. Mary Church, Huntington Beach, CA

1979-1996 St. John the Baptist, Costa Mesa, CA

1997-2002 St. Edward, Dana Point, CA

2002 Administrative Leave

2003-2011 Retired

2012-2014 Unknown

2015-2017 Retired