Casper church abuse lawsuit continues

A civil lawsuit filed six months ago by three men against a former Casper youth minister remains active in Laramie County District Court. The plaintiffs, Ryan Pflund, Anthony Jacobson, and James Stres, accuse the defendant of sexually assaulting them as children. The case is currently in a phase where the parties exchange documents and briefs before a judge decides whether to settle the dispute or move toward a trial.

The plaintiffs claim the abuse occurred between 1991 and 1995. The complaint states that the defendant, who was employed by the church at the time, allegedly gave the minors alcohol before the assaults. The men describe these incidents as repeated events that happened over several years.

The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in Casper and the Diocese of Cheyenne have formally denied the allegations of abuse in their response to the lawsuit. The church and diocese stated that the defendant was employed but disputed his exact job title. They also questioned whether the defendant worked directly with the specific plaintiffs named in the suit.

A central point of contention involves a priest named Pietro Paolo Colibraro. The plaintiffs stated that Colibraro, who had a history of abuse, supervised the defendant. The church acknowledged that Colibraro was a co-pastor. The diocese later listed Colibraro on its website as a priest with a substantial allegation dating back to 1968. Colibraro died in 1986, according to newspaper records from that period.

The parties have 21 days from the date they are served to file a reply brief. This document will summarize what is known about the case. The next step is likely a motion for summary judgment, where a judge may rule based on the undisputed facts. Alternatively, the case may enter a discovery process where both sides investigate the evidence further.