Dale Arden Crampton (Father Dale Crampton)
Father Dale Crampton 1974 -Ottawa Citizen file photo 1986
Priest Archdiocese of Ottawa. Ordained 1963. 1986 GUILTY plea to 7 counts of indecent assault. Given a suspended sentence by Judge Keith Flanigan and two years probation. Sentence appealed by Crown – sentenced to 8 months in jail.
Father Dale Crampton
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Ordained 1963.
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Incardinated in the Archdiocese of Ottawa.
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Canon lawyer.
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Honourary chaplain to RCMP
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School Board trustee
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spent time in Africa
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worked as canon lawyer in Diocese of London Ontario after his sex abuse conviction
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2010: living in the greater Ottawa area
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12 October 2010: committed suicide
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Inquiry Classes in Archdiocese of Ottawa 1968 and 1971
Inquiry Classes in Archdiocese of Ottawa Fall 1968
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Media coverage and other documents re sex abuse allegations and conviction of Father Dale Crampton
23 October 2010: Obituary: Father Dale Crampton
14 October 2010: City priest convicted of sexual assaults kills himself
14 October 2010: Pedophile priest leaps to death
13 October 2010: “Priest Accused in Sexual Assaults Takes Own Life” & “Priest convicted of sexually assaulting altar boys kills himself”
13 October 2010: Pedophile priest jumps to his death
12 October 2010: BLOG Dead?
11 June 2009: Church blames victims’s lawyer for lawsuit
21 July 2008: “Pathetically, shamefully and disgustingly sickening“
29 September 2006: BLOG “Are Roman Catholic clerical sexual predators a protected species?”
27 July 1970: Father Dale Crampton leaving for Malawi C. Africa (Pastoral Monthly, July-August 1970, Vol. 6)
Father Dale Crampton. Photograph by: John Major, The Ottawa Citizen
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February 12, 1990 13.05 EST
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa has paid $150,000 to the families of three altar boys who were sexually abused by a Nepean priest.
Archdiocese spokesman Msgr. Roger Morin confirmed Monday that the money was paid last fall in an out‑of‑court settlement. No other details were released.
The families sued Rev. Dale Crampton for assault and breach of duty after the priest was convicted in December 1987 of sexually assaulting seven altar boys during a 10‑year period.
The assaults took place overnight in rectories in Goulbourn Township, at Nepean churches and at Crampton’s cottage.
Crampton, 50, received an eight‑month sentence.
Bruce Carr‑Harris, a lawyer who represented the families, said after the October settlement that the families were pleased with the outcome. Carr‑Harris said they did not want the civil case to go to trial.
The families also sued Ottawa Bishop John Beahan, now deceased, and the archdiocese for negligence in its supervision of Crampton and its obligation to protect the congregation.
Crampton must pay a share of the settlement and the diocese had to cover for Beahan.
Adrian Hewitt, a lawyer for the archdiocese, said it has never acknowledged responsibility for Crampton’s actions. Hewitt said the families alleged Beahan had failed to properly supervise Crampton, but the archdiocese argued the bishop had no knowledge of his actions or propensity.
Morin said Crampton is still working for the church, but isn’t doing parish work and isn’t employed in the Ottawa area.
A pre‑trial hearing had been scheduled for March 16, but all parties said they hoped to reach a settlement before then to reduce publicity.
Hewitt said this is the first time the diocese has ever reached such a settlement.
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October 20, 1989 13.20 EDT
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
Ottawa’s Roman Catholic diocese has reached a financial settlement with the families of three altar boys who were sexually abused by Dale Crampton, a priest from nearby Nepean.
Father Gilles Lavergne, diocese spokesman, confirmed Friday that an out‑of‑court settlement was reached Thursday.
No details of the settlement are being released. The families of the three boys have declined comment.
The families sued Crampton for assault and breach of duty after the priest was convicted in December 1987 of sexually assaulting seven altar boys over a 10‑year period. Crampton received an eight‑month sentence. The Crown has appealed the sentence.
The families also sued a former Ottawa bishop, John Beahan, who now is deceased, and the Catholic archdiocese for negligence in its supervision of Crampton and its obligation to protect the congregation.
The lawsuit alleged the youths’ education and prospects for future income have been impaired because of the trauma they suffered.
The bishop and the archdiocese denied any responsibility for Crampton’s actions.
A pre‑trial hearing for the case had been set for March 16. But all parties involved in the case said they hoped to reach a settlement before then to reduce publicity.
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R. v. Crampton (1987 Supreme Court of Ontario, Court of Appeal)
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The Lawyers Weekly, 7:18
September 11, 1987
Section: Weekly Digest
R. v. Crampton
Ontario Court of Appeal
per Morden J.A.
July 10, 1987 ‑ 17 pp.
(1987), 7 L.W. 718‑011
Criminal law ‑‑ Sentencing ‑‑ Indecent assault.
Crown appealed against suspension of passing of sentence and releasing of accused on probation for two years following his plea of guilty to seven counts of indecent assault. Accused, aged 50, was a Roman Catholic priest, trustee of local separate school board, honorary R.C.M.P. chaplain and church marriage tribunal judge. Offences, which had taken place between 1973 and 1982, all involved fondling of boys between ages of 9 and 13, several of them altar boys in his church, while they were in his care. There was evidence that all victims had suffered psychological, emotional and spiritual damage. Accused had been diagnosed as suffering from homosexual paedophilia and alcoholism. In 1986, after complaints had been made to church representatives but before complaints had been made to police, he had been voluntarily admitted to church‑run treatment facility. Reports indicated that he had responded well to treatment and showed considerable remorse for his behaviour, and that both his paedophilia and alcohol problem were in a state of remission. Crown submitted that trial judge had erred in principle in failing to impose a custodial term.
HELD: appeal allowed. Sentence imposed lay outside a fit range of sentences. Trial judge had failed to give proper weight to extreme form of breach of trust involved in offences; youth and corresponding vulnerability of victims at a very important time in their lives with respect to their sexual development; impact of offences on victims and their families and fact that offences had taken place over a substantial period. Fact that accused had sought treatment before charges had been laid must be considered with fact that accused, an intelligent man, must have known that what he was doing was wrong both morally and legally, and fact that he had continued in such behaviour for 10 years without seeking help. Incarceration properly expressed public abhorrence and Court repudiation of such conduct. Sentence of imprisonment for 8 months should accordingly be imposed.
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March 2, 1989 15.33 EST
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
Catholic Church officials want an out‑of‑court settlement with three families suing the Ottawa diocese and a priest convicted of sexually assaulting young altar boys, the Ottawa Citizen says.
The three families have launched civil suits against the diocese and Rev. Dale Crampton. A pre‑trial hearing is set for March 16.
But the church is pushing to settle the lawsuit out of court to avoid publicity, the Citizen said Thursday, citing sources.
Church officials are also worried any damages awarded by a court could set a dangerous precedent, the newspaper said.
“(The church) is getting anxious this hasn’t been settled yet,” the paper quotes a source close to the families as saying.
Crampton is being sued for assault and breach of duty after he was convicted in December 1987 of sexually assaulting seven altar boys over a 10‑year period.
The source said the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is worried about potential lawsuits arising from recent charges against priests in Newfoundland.
Six priests or former priests in Newfoundland have been charged with or convicted of sexually abusing young boys in the last year.
But Archbishop James Hayes, president of the bishops’ organization, said he hasn’t been involved in the case.
Rev. Pat Powers, spokesman for Ottawa Archbishop Joseph‑Aurele Plourde, would not discuss the Crampton case.
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November 6, 1987
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
Rev. Dale Crampton, the Nepean, Ont. priest convicted of indecently assaulting seven altar boys, denies that his conduct caused the youths emotional difficulty.
Three Nepean boys and their parents are suing Crampton for assault and breach of duty, claiming severe psychological trauma.
Crampton, in a statement of defence against the claims, says the boys’ suffering was precipitated and prolonged by the civil and criminal court actions against him.
Crampton was sentenced to eight months in jail for the assaults.
The families are also suing Ottawa Bishop Rev. John Beahan and the Catholic archdiocese for negligence in their supervision of the priest and their obligation to protect the congregation.
The lawsuit alleges the youths’ education and prospects for future income have been impaired by the trauma they suffered.
The bishop and the archdiocese deny responsibility for Crampton’s actions and have filed counter‑claims against Crampton in the event damages are awarded.
The Ottawa Citizen won the right to examine the statements of defence after challenging a court order to seal the file. The order was made by district court Judge Keith Flanigan at the request of the plaintiffs.
Richard Dearden, lawyer for Southam Inc., which owns the Citizen, argued that closure of the file limited the newspaper’s freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Charter of Rights, and contravened the principle that all judicial proceedings are open to the public.
Ontario Supreme Court Justice Elmer Smith agreed the principle of open court proceedings should prevail.
The parents and a doctor argued that public scrutiny of the case would have a negative effect on the boys, but the judge said he had insufficient material to make an exception to the rule of public access.
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June 30, 1987
Canadian Press
TORONTO (CP)
A Roman Catholic priest who molested seven altar boys has had his sentence increased to eight months in jail ‑‑ instead of a suspended sentence ‑‑ by the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Rev. Dale Crampton, 50, who had pleaded guilty, received the suspended sentence last year with an order that he continue treatment for alcoholism and a sexual disorder.
But Mr. Justice J. W. Morden said Tuesday last year’s ruling had not given sufficient attention to Crampton’s “extreme form of breach of trust and breach of authority.”
Morden, speaking for a three‑judge panel, said Crampton “must have known that what he was doing was wrong morally and legally.”
The assaults occurred over a 10‑year period beginning in 1973, usually in a church rectory or at the priest’s cottage. Although one mother had complained to priests and a bishop about Crampton’s behavior, no charges were laid until 1986.
The boys, 12 or 13 years old at the time of the assaults, suffered great embarrassment over the incidents, Morden said.
“His trust in the priest was gone as well as his faith in the church,” he said of one victim. While none of the incidents involved threats of physical injury, some of the boys suffered “psychologicial, emotional and spiritual damage,” he noted.
Crampton began treatment before being charged and was diagnosed as a homosexual pedophile and alcoholic, Morden noted. But he said reports show he has considerable remorse for his actions and has made major progress under treatment.
Crown attorney Michael Bernstein said a bench warrant would be issued later this week for Crampton’s arrest. He now does administrative work in the archdiocese office in London, Ont.
Ken Hall, one of Crampton’s lawyers, said Tuesday it was unusual for an appeal court to overturn a sentence of probation and impose a jail term.
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January 16, 1987
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
The Crown attorney’s office in Toronto is appealing the sentence given a Nepean, Ont., priest who pleaded guilty in December to indecent assaults against seven young altar servers.
Rev. Dale Crampton, 50, was given a suspended sentence, placed on probation for two years and ordered by district court Judge Keith Flanigan to take psychiatric counselling.
The Roman Catholic priest, who has not been involved in official church duties since February, was described in court as an alcoholic with a sexual preference for boys.
He apologized after the sentencing for the incidents, which spanned 10 years and occurred in the rectories of churches in nearby Richmond, Ont., Nepean, and at his cottage.
The official handling the case in Toronto could not be reached to explain reasons for the appeal.
But Ottawa Crown Attorney Andrejs Berzins said he expects incarceration is being sought. Berzins sought a jail term of nine months to one year.
Flanigan rejected jail, saying it would not serve either Crampton or the community, which he said Crampton still had a great deal to offer.
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December 23, 1986
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
A Nepean, Ont., priest described in court as an alcoholic with a sexual preference for boys was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for two years after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault before a district courtroom full of church members, the victims and their families.
“I am well aware that no one need accept my request for forgiveness,” Rev. Dale Crampton, 50, said in a statement.
The assaults, which consisted mainly of fondling of the boys’ genitals, spanned over 10 years and occurred in the rectories of Ontario churches in Richmond and Nepean, as well as at Crampton’s cottage in West Carleton.
None of the victims, who at the time of the incidents ranged in age from 10 to 13, were threatened or injured.
The Roman Catholic priest was ordered to take long‑term treatment for his alcohol addiction and the pedophilia, and told to stay away unsupervised from boys under 16 by District Court Judge Keith Flanigan. Pedophilia is the sexual preference for children.
In passing sentence, Flanigan described Crampton as “man of God” who had breached a sacred trust.
But he also called the priest highly respected, motivated to change, with much to offer the community.
Flanigan said a jail term suggested by the Crown was not the best way to protect society, or to stop Crampton from committing the crime again.
SHAMED ARCHDIOCESE
Crampton apologized in the statement for the shame he has brought his colleagues at the Ottawa Archdiocese, saying the crimes were his and not those of the church.
Crampton has been diagnosed since the incidents with the boys ended in 1982 as an alcoholic and pedophiliac. Court was told Crampton consumed up to 20 ounces of alcohol each day, something he’d been doing since 1970.
Parents of the victims said the sentence was too lenient.
“As a group we felt incarceration of some sort would have been appropriate,” said one father. By court order, none of the boys can be identified. To name the parents would lead to the identity of their children.
The victims and their parents said in statements read into court by Crown Attorney Andrejs Berzins before sentencing they were left troubled and confused by the fondling incidents. Most had stopped attending mass and said their faith in the church was shaken.
Still a priest, Crampton has not performed official duties since February. He served for nine years as parish priest at St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church in Nepean. Before that he was a priest for three years at St. Phillip’s Church in Richmond, Ont., about 25 kilometres south west of Ottawa.
Defence lawyer Michael Neville said Crampton will remain a priest with administrative duties.
Neville sought a suspended sentence with probation and long‑term treatment, saying society was best protected if Crampton were cared for by doctors and psychiatrists rather than be incarcerated.
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December 4, 1986
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
The pre‑trial hearing of Rev. Dale Crampton was adjourned for the ninth time Thursday until today to allow his defence lawyer time to review information related to the case.
The 50‑year‑old Roman Catholic priest was charged in June with nine counts of indecent assault involving five young boys between the ages of 10 to 14 during a four‑year period ending in 1980.
Defence lawyer Mike Neville said the adjournment until today was necessary because he wanted time to review material he received from Crown Attorney Andrejs Berzins Thursday morning.
Neville said Crampton, who served nine years at St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church in nearby Nepean, Ont., would not be entering a plea today.
Gilles Deslauriers, a 49‑year‑old Roman Catholic priest, was sentenced in November to two years’ probation after pleading guilty to four charges of gross indecency involving four Cornwall, Ont., youths aged 17 and 19 between 1979 and 1981.
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November 5, 1986
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
The time‑consuming preliminary inquiry into sexual assault charges against Rev. Dale Crampton may be waived if the Crown Attorney can persuade the priest’s lawyer to agree, provincial court was told Wednesday.
Judge Robert Hutton agreed to Crown Attorney Andrejs Berzins’ request for an adjournment until Nov. 20 after Berzins said he wants to give additional information to Mike Neville, Crampton’s lawyer.
Crampton, who served nine years at St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church, faces nine charges of indecent assault allegedly involving boys ‑‑ all altar servers ‑‑ aged 10 to 14, over a four‑year period ending in 1980.
The charges were laid following a police investigation prompted by complaints from several boys and their parents.
Crampton, 50, has not been involved in any official duties since February when he left for an alcohol rehabilitation centre in Lake Orion, Michigan.
He returned to Canada and surrendered to police June 14.
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October 16, 1986
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
The trial of Rev. Dale Crampton was delayed in provincial court Thursday for the fifth time since he was charged in June with sexually assaulting five young boys.
Michael Neville, defence lawyer for the 50‑year‑old priest, asked Judge Jean‑Marie Bordeleau for a delay until Oct. 30 because Crown Attorney John Campbell was busy in district court.
Crampton, who stood at the back of the court Thursday dressed in a suit, was expected to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
Crampton served nine years at St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church in Nepean, Ont. The incidents are said to have involved boys, all altar servers aged 10 to 14, over a four‑year period ending in 1980.
Crampton’s previous court appearance on Oct. 2 was delayed when Neville asked for a two‑week postponement because he wanted time to review the Crown’s evidence against his client. The funeral of Crampton’s father, William James Crampton, a retired RCMP sargeant, caused another delay.
The charges were laid against Crampton following a Nepean police investigation that was prompted by complaints by several boys and their parents.
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October 2, 1986
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
Rev. Dale Crampton, a Roman Catholic priest charged with nine counts of sexual assault on boys, appeared in court briefly Thursday and was granted a two‑week trial delay at the request of his lawyer.
Crampton, a 50‑year‑old priest in nearby Nepean Ont., has already appeared twice and missed another court date because of the death of his father.
He is to appear before Judge Jean‑Marie Bordeleau Oct. 16.
His lawyer Michale Neville asked for the delay because he still hasn’t completely reviewed the crown’s evidence against his client, who has yet to enter a plea to the charges.
The incidents are said to have occurred during a four‑year perioid ending in 1980.
Crampton has served for nine years at St. Maurice parish.
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September 11, 1986
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
Rev. Dale Crampton, a Roman Catholic priest charged with nine counts of sexual assault on boys, did not appear in court today as scheduled because of the death of his father.
William James Crampton, a former RCMP employee, died Tuesday and his funeral was to be held today about two hours after his son’s scheduled court appearance.
Judge James Fontana of provincial court issued a bench warrant for the 50‑year‑old priest, but that was only a routine procedure to ensure the court retains jurisdiction in the case. Police will not be instructed to arrest Crampton, but if the warrant hadn’t been issued they would have had to lay charges again.
Crampton is scheduled to appear again in court Oct. 2, but his lawyer Michael Neville said it will be a brief appearance because he still hasn’t had time to review all the Crown’s evidence.
Crampton has not entered a plea on the nine charges involving alleged incidents with five boys aged 10 to 14. The incidents are said to have occurred during a four‑year period ending in 1980.
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June 20, 1986
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP)
A 50‑year‑old Roman Catholic priest, charged with nine counts of indecent assault involving five young boys, made his first appearance in provincial court today and was told to return in August.
Rev. Dale Crampton, who had been at an alcohol treatment centre in Michigan, turned himself in to police in suburban Nepean Saturday.
He was told today to appear in court again Aug. 14. The charges against him were not read in court.
He was charged earlier this month after several boys and their parents complained to police.
Judge Robert Hutton granted the adjournment partly to give Crampton’s lawyer, Michael Neville, time to see the Crown’s summary of evidence against his client.
The charges relate to incidents involving five boys, all altar servers, between the ages of 10 and 14. The incidents are alleged to have taken place in the priest’s residence, at his West Carleton Township cottage and at churches where Crampton served.
Crampton had been the parish priest at St. Maurice’s Parish in Nepean for the past nine years.
Six of the charges involve assaults which allegedly took place between 1978 and 1980. One of the charges dates from when Crampton was priest at St. Phillip’s church in Richmond, Ont., between 1970 and 1973. The other two charges relate to more recent events alleged to involve a boy at St. Maurice’s.
Crampton, although still a priest, has not been involved in any official duties since he left for the rehabilitation centre in Lake Orion in Michigan in February.
From 1975 to 1978, he was a trustee of the Ottawa Separate School Board. He has also held an honorary post as padre of the Ottawa branch of the RCMP for 14 years.
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June 2, 1986
Canadain Press
OTTAWA (CP)
A 50‑year‑old priest from suburban Nepean has been charged with six counts of sexual abuse involving three young boys between 1978 and 1980, police said Monday.
Rev. Dale Crampton, pastor for nine years of St. Maurice parish, will appear in court when he returns from an alcohol‑ abuse treatment centre in Michigan in two weeks, a spokesmansaid.
Insp. Ron Lamont said he has been assured by officials of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa that Crampton will voluntarily return to face the charges when the treatment program is complete.
“This would be a lot quicker than (extradition),” Lamont said.
Crampton served for two years as a trustee for the Ottawa Separate School Board and is padre for the Ottawa branch of the RCMP, a largely honorary post.
The alleged victims, all altar servers at the parish, were between the ages of 10 and 14 at the time the incidents are alleged to have taken place at the priest’s residence at the church and at his West Carleton Township cottage.
Lamont refused to release any details of the nature of the charges.
LASHES MEDIA
Archbishop Joseph‑Aurele Plourde, in a statement released within a half‑hour of the charges being laid, criticized local news media for past reports ‑‑ carried while the investigation was under way but before charges were laid ‑‑ and also criticized members of Crampton’s congregation for going public with their allegations.
“The only effect could be to provoke indiscriminate speculation without any foundation in fact,” said the bishop’s statement.
“It is suprising that a society which strives to promote human rights would allow the media and public officials to make such statements before charges were laid.”
Plourde singled out one St. Maurice parishioner for criticism, saying he “claims to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and to be entrusted with a mission to cleanse the church of homosexuals.”
Crampton has been a part‑time judge for the Ottawa Ecclesiastical Tribunal for the past two years, ruling on about 14 requests for marriage annulment.
Judicial Vicar Jean‑Louis Plouffe said the cases were only a small portion of the 400 handled by the tribunal each year, and they would not be affected by any action taken against Crampton in the wake of charges.
Crampton has been at a rehabilitation centre in Lake Orion, Mich., since February for alcohol abuse treatment and “a complete psychological assessment,” according to diocese officials.