Former Priest With Big Spring Ties On Trial For Allegedly Ordering Hit On Teen
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: May 16, 2012
DALLAS -- A murder solicitation trial is underway for a former Roman Catholic priest with Howard County ties.
John Fiala is charged with solicitation of capital murder in Dallas County.
Fiala, 53, is accused of offering a neighbor in Garland money if he killed a 16-year-old boy.
Prosecutors say Fiala sexually abused the boy at gunpoint when he was working at a parish in Rocksprings in 2007 and 2008.
When the alleged victim tried to go to the authorities, Fiala reportedly offered his neighbor $5,000 to kill the teen.
Fiala was living in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex at the time of the alleged hit request.
Meanwhile, the neighbor Fiala reportedly offered to pay for the hit turned out to be an undercover informant -- and prosecutors say he reported the plot.
Fiala's attorney counters that the neighbor came up with the murder plot on his own.
Fiala was originally arrested for the incident in November 2010 in Garland.
Fiala is facing four additional charges in Edwards County. He has also been indicted on sexual assault of a child charges in Howard County.
Prosecutors also believe Fiala hid the victim in the alleged Rocksprings incidents at his apartment in Big Spring at one point.
John Fiala is charged with solicitation of capital murder in Dallas County.
Fiala, 53, is accused of offering a neighbor in Garland money if he killed a 16-year-old boy.
Prosecutors say Fiala sexually abused the boy at gunpoint when he was working at a parish in Rocksprings in 2007 and 2008.
When the alleged victim tried to go to the authorities, Fiala reportedly offered his neighbor $5,000 to kill the teen.
Fiala was living in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex at the time of the alleged hit request.
Meanwhile, the neighbor Fiala reportedly offered to pay for the hit turned out to be an undercover informant -- and prosecutors say he reported the plot.
Fiala's attorney counters that the neighbor came up with the murder plot on his own.
Fiala was originally arrested for the incident in November 2010 in Garland.
Fiala is facing four additional charges in Edwards County. He has also been indicted on sexual assault of a child charges in Howard County.
Prosecutors also believe Fiala hid the victim in the alleged Rocksprings incidents at his apartment in Big Spring at one point.
