Former Priest Pleads Guilty In Sex Assaults

Former Priest Pleads Guilty In Sex Assaults

Denver Man Was Also A Teacher At North High

August 8, 2002

DENVER -- A man who briefly served as an Episcopal priest nearly 40 years ago pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain Thursday to sexually assaulting two boys at his home last summer.

Don Shissler

Donald Shissler (pictured, left), 69, was originally 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.

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As part of his guilty plea, all but two counts were dismissed.

Shissler has been held on $100,000 bond at the Denver County Jail since his arrest in June.

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.

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 foster parent in the 1980s.

Shissler will be sentenced in October 17, 2002 at 9:00 a.m., on the charges. He faces an indeterminate sentence of two years, to life in prison, according to the District Attorney's office.