Diocese of Cheyenne and Casper, Wyoming, Church Sued Over Alleged 1990s Sexual Assaults of Three Boys by Former Youth Minister

A civil complaint alleges that Doug Hudson, a former youth minister under the Diocese of Cheyenne, sexually assaulted three boys while they took part in youth programs in the 1990s. One report says the complaint was filed on a Tuesday, and another says it was filed in March. Both name the Diocese of Cheyenne and Our Lady of Fatima Church in Casper as defendants. The complaint accuses them of failing to supervise and protect the minors, and it seeks at least $50,000 in damages per plaintiff. These are allegations in a lawsuit, and no court has ruled on them.

According to the complaint, the diocese and church provided Hudson with housing on their campus for conducting youth activities. Two of the accusers say the assaults took place at that campus residence. The lawsuit further alleges that the diocese and church knew Hudson was inviting minors to his home and had organized at least one off-campus overnight trip for youth activities.

Father Pietro Philip Colibraro supervised Hudson at the time of the alleged incidents. The Diocese of Cheyenne acknowledged a substantiated abuse allegation against Colibraro in 2005. One report states that the diocese had not yet commented publicly on the lawsuit and that efforts to locate Hudson had been unsuccessful. The other report says the diocese acknowledged the 2005 allegation but does not describe a separate public statement on the current lawsuit.

Hudson denied the allegations in a Wednesday court response. His lawyer, Casper attorney Ryan Semerad, said Hudson “has never hurt a young person.” Semerad said Hudson now lives in Kentucky and has been removed from educator positions because of the accusations. The two reports differ on whether Hudson could be located, and the lawyer’s account of his current residence is attributed to the lawyer alone.

Hudson denied assaulting the two plaintiffs who spoke about the campus residence. He admitted that he generally allowed youth to visit a communal area downstairs at appropriate times.