A victim reported a sexual assault by a Jamestown priest to the Diocese of Fargo Dec. 17, 2022. However, she became frustrated with the way the internal investigation was handled, and eventually turned to law enforcement in January, 2023 according to Tim O’Keeffe, who is a partner with O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys. Tim O’Keeffe is representing the victims.
He said, “It was then that the diocesan responded and removed the priest in Jamestown.”
Neil Joseph Pfeifer (48), was taken to the Pierce County Correctional Facility in Rugby, North Dakota on Wednesday, February 1. He was charged with sexual exploitation of a therapist and sexual assault in Southeast District Court, Jamestown, Friday, February 3.
Pfeifer pleaded guilty to sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a therapist charges and was released on Friday, February 3, with $5,000 cash bail. He is being monitored electronically 24 hours a day.
Pfeifer resigned from active ministry on January 14th, pending an investigation into allegations regarding inappropriate conduct with adults. Pfeifer was a member of St. James Basilica, St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Mathias Catholic Church.
After Monsignor Jeffrey Wald’s death in October 2020, Pfeifer arrived at St. James Basilica.
According to court documents, a victim reported to law enforcement Jan. 13 that Pfeifer had sexually assaulted her on Dec. 17, 2022 at the rectory at St. James Basilica. According to court documents, Pfeifer pushed the victim onto his bed and then began kissing her neck and lips.
He hen touched the woman inappropriately over her clothes and began kissing her neck again before she left the rectory.
Pfeifer, who denied the allegations, said he was only helping her with depression issues for a while. Court documents state that this was on Thursday, February 2. Pfeifer claimed that the woman was not known to be a fraud and that he didn’t know why she would lie.
Maj. Justin Blinsky is assistant chief of police at the Jamestown Police Department. The investigation continues and additional charges may be brought against him.
The investigation was also supported by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, the Rugby Police Department, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Jamestown Sun tried to reach the Diocese of Fargo via email on Friday for comment, but was unsuccessful.
Bishop John Folda, Diocese of Fargo, stated in a statement that the diocese is fully cooperating with the investigation.
“We find it disturbing that Catholic officials always emphasize their cooperation when a victim comes forward,” said the Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests in a Friday news release. “We suspect that this is an attempt to disassociate themselves completely from the horror of sex related crimes and to make it seem to parishioners as well as the general public that they are totally clueless.”
O’Keeffe stated that he doesn’t know how many victims of sexual assault there might be.
“I know that I have spoken to more than two” “I have two clients right at the moment. “I also have suspicions about that,” he said.
He also claimed that he knew about the latest incident of sexual assault that occurred Dec. 17. “There are other incidents that I know about going back almost 2 years, ” he stated.
O’Keeffe claimed that his clients are “incredibly courageous” to speak out about the incidents, so it won’t happen again to anyone else. “It’s also incredibly distressing to hear about their stories and what they went though,” he stated.
O’Keeffe stated that he and Tatum O’Brien, his law partner, will help clients understand the criminal process.
He said, “We will also be inserting Civil Claims against the Diocese in Fargo and the Priest.”
According to the Survivors Network of Priests Abused, independent professionals in law enforcement should investigate the alleged crimes and not “biased and corrupt amateurs in church offices.” The group recommended that the bishop of Fargo visit all places where Pfeifer was working and encourage anyone who might have witnessed, experienced, or suspected abuse to contact police immediately.
Jamestown Police Sergeant Troy Kelly is available for any information regarding these incidents. Jason Prochnow can be reached at (701)-252-2414 or BCI Special Agent Troy Kelly (701)-251-2993.
