LAS CRUCES - One of two lawsuits filed Tuesday against the El Paso Diocese alleges a Las Cruces-area priest sexually abused a boy in the 1970s.

The first lawsuit alleges Father Marcos Rizzo-Rico, then a pastor of San Miguel Parish in La Mesa, abused a young boy from 1974 to 1976.

The second lawsuit alleges Father Juan Montoya sexually abused an 11-year-old girl while serving as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Roswell in 2001.

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The Albuquerque firm Hall & Monagle, which filed the suits, alleges there are at least nine abuse lawsuits pending against the Diocese of Las Cruces and/or the Diocese of El Paso.

In a news release announcing the two most recent lawsuits, the firm stated additional lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming weeks.

Alleging abuse from stepfather to Father

In 1974, a 10-year old altar boy for San Miguel Parish was being physically abused by his stepfather, court documents state. When Father Marcos Rizzo-Rico, referred to as Father Marcos in court documents, found out about the abuse, he told the boy's mother that the boy could live with him to be "protected from abuse."

The lawsuit alleges Father Marcos begin sexually abusing the boy as soon as they lived together and that the alleged abuse occurred as as frequently three times per week.

The alleged abuse happened at Father Marcos' house, a vicarage owned by the diocese, court documents state.

The lawsuit stated the boy lived with Father Marcos until 1976, when he moved in with his biological father.

The alleged victim suppressed the abuse — trying to forget that it happened — until 2018, when he realized how badly hurt he was by it and began to seek professional help, court documents state.

At the time of the alleged abuse, the encounters happened under the jurisdiction of the El Paso Diocese. In 1982, the Las Cruces Diocese formed and now oversees southern New Mexico.

A phone call to San Miguel Parish on Wednesday has not been returned.

Seeking damages

Both lawsuits allege the church should be held liable because it knew about the existence of pedophilia and child sexual abuse in their organization, but did nothing to protect its youngest parishioners, or to teach children how to protect themselves against abuse.

Both plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages.

The lawsuits are the latest in a string of allegations against Catholic church leaders in southern New Mexico.

Just three weeks ago, Hall & Monagle filed another two lawsuits in Third Judicial District Court, claiming abuse by Sister Katherine Marie at Holy Cross Parish and School in 1978 and Father Pedro Martinez, an El Paso priest, who allegedly abused a boy on road trips to Deming starting in 1968 or 1968.

In November 2018, the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces released the names of 28 clergy who served in the diocese that were "credibly accused" of sexual misconduct with a minor. In February 2019, it identified 13 more.

None of the four church leaders named in lawsuits over the past three weeks is on those lists.

More:4th person alleges child sexual abuse by ex-Las Cruces priest

How to report

The diocese asks anyone with knowledge of clergy's sexual misconduct with a minor, past or present, to report the information as soon as possible to local police or the sheriff’s department. After contacting the authorities, people may contact Deacon Jim Winder, victim’s assistance coordinator for the diocese at 575-523-7577 or email vac@rcdlc.org.

Bethany Freudenthal can be reached at bfreudenthal@lcsun-news.com, 575-541-5449 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter.