Sex Assault Charges Filed Against Former Priest

Sex Assault Charges Filed Against Former Priest

Suspect Also A Former Denver Teacher

June 4, 2002

DENVER -- A man who briefly served as an Episcopal priest nearly 40 years ago has been charged with sexually assaulting two boys at his home last summer.

Don Shissler

Denver DA Bill Ritter, Jr. filed formal charges today against Donald Shissler (pictured, left), 69, in connection with the alleged attacks.

He was charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, one count of sexual assault on a child - pattern of abuse, and one count of sexual exploitation of children.

Shissler is being held on $100,000 bond at the Denver County Jail.

An arrest affidavit cited allegations that stemmed from events last summer involving two neighborhood boys. Police seized hundreds of pornographic pictures and videos from Shissler's house when he was arrested Thursday.

Shissler was an Episcopal priest for two years, last serving in Aspen in 1963.

He was also a Denver teacher, at North High School from 1984 to 1994, and a former foster parent in the 1980s.