Ex-priest bonds out of Scott County Jail

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By Ann McGlynn and Dustin Lemmon | Thursday, July 17, 2008 |

UPDATED: A spokeswoman at the Scott County Jail said defrocked priest James Janssen was bonded out this morning, but had not yet left the jail as of 9 a.m.

Janssen’s bond was set at $5,000. Janssen has been in custody for six months for contempt of court and was about to be released when he was charged with three counts of perjury.

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

Janssen remains in jail

By Ann McGlynn

EARLIER STORY: James Janssen, the defrocked priest accused of molesting dozens of boys during his priesthood, remains in the Scott County Jail.

His sentence on a contempt of court charge ended Tuesday. However, he is now being held on three counts of perjury and a $5,000 bond.

James Wells won a civil lawsuit against his uncle in May 2005 for abuse he suffered as a child. He and his attorneys have been fighting ever since to get Janssen to pay the $1.4 million Wells is owed.

The battle has resulted in two other suits, the contempt action and perjury charges.

Wells sued his aunt, Dorothy Janssen, after he and his attorneys discovered she and James Janssen began cashing bonds May 23, 2003, the day after a Quad-City Times article detailed the first of several lawsuits alleging sexual abuse to be filed against the ex-priest.

Cashing of the bonds continued through Oct. 17, 2003. The principal and interest on the bonds totaled $712,664.

Scott County District Judge Mary Howes ruled that Wells was entitled to $255,607 from Dorothy Janssen, as well as her house, car and more than $112,500 in bonds and accounts in her name.

In April, Wells sued five people who received bonds, according to the list Janssen produced as he went to jail.

Janssen was ordered to jail in January by District Judge Bobbi Alpers as a result of his failure to produce his assets.

Last week, Scott County Attorney Mike Walton filed three counts of perjury against Janssen for statements made in 2006 and 2007. Alpers requested an investigation.

According to documents, Janssen lied in April 2006 when he testified under oath that he did not transfer assets to a family member in the 10 years proceeding that date. He later admitted transferring assets, including more than $700,000 in bonds, to his sister, Dorothy.

In July 2007, Janssen lied on his application for a court-appointed attorney on a contempt of court accusation. He did not disclose ownership of and income from an annuity or the fact that he had access to money with his sister to pay his expenses.

And, in October 2007, officials said, he falsely testified under oath that he did not know about $80,000 in savings bonds. He later produced a list of bonds.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.

Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

Janssen stays in jail

By Ann McGlynn

EARLIER STORY: The defrocked priest accused of molesting dozens of boys during his priesthood remains in the Scott County Jail.

His jail stay on a contempt of court charge ended Tuesday. However, he is now being held on three counts of perjury and a $5,000 bond.

James Wells won a civil lawsuit against his uncle in May 2005 for abuse he suffered as a child. He and his attorneys have been fighting ever since to get James Janssen to pay the $1.4 million Wells is owed.

The battle has resulted in two additional lawsuits, plus the contempt action and perjury charges.

Wells sued his aunt, Dorothy Janssen, after he and his attorneys discovered that she and James Janssen began cashing bonds May 23, 2003, the day after a Quad-City Times article detailed the first of several lawsuits alleging sexual abuse to be filed against the ex-priest.

Cashing of the bonds continued through Oct. 17, 2003. The principal and interest on the bonds totaled $712,664.

Scott County District Judge Mary Howes ruled that Wells was entitled to $255,607 from Dorothy Janssen, as well as her house, car and more than $112,500 in bonds and accounts in her name.

In April, Wells filed suit against five people who were given bonds, according to the list Janssen produced as he went to jail.

Janssen was ordered to jail in January by District Judge Bobbi Alpers as a result of his failure to produce his assets.

Last week, Scott County Attorney Mike Walton filed three counts of perjury against Janssen for statements made in 2006 and 2007. Alpers requested an investigation.

According to documents, Janssen lied in April 2006 when he testified under oath that he did not transfer assets to a family member in the 10 years proceeding that date. He later admitted transferring assets, including more than $700,000 in bonds, to his sister, Dorothy.

In July 2007, Janssen lied on his application for a court-appointed attorney on a contempt of court accusation. He did not disclose ownership of and income from an annuity or the fact that he had access to money with his sister to pay his expenses.

And, in October 2007, officials said, he falsely testified under oath that he did not know about $80,000 in savings bonds. He later produced a list of bonds and admitted they were given as gifts to friends and family.

Each count of perjury carries a possible penalty of up to five years in prison.

Janssen was removed from the priesthood in 2004 by Pope John Paul II. Believed to be the first Davenport Diocese priest to be defrocked, Janssen was ordained in 1948. He held several positions in Clinton County. He also was a pastor in Davenport, Burlington, East Pleasant Plain, Fort Madison, Holbrook and Newton, Iowa. He was appointed a Boy Scout chaplain. His last diocesan job in Grand Mound ended in 1990.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.