30-year-old priest misconduct case reopened, new plea in Novus health fraud case: Your Friday evening roundup

November 16,  2018 By Wayne Carter Good evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Micaela (left) and Myrna Dartson, home from college, pose for a picture on Easter Sunday 1987 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Dallas. (Family photo) catholic church abuse crisis 'Anything he could grab, he would try it': Dallas sexual misconduct case reopened decades after twins reported priest The lives of twins Myrna and Micaela Dartson had revolved since birth around St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, a historic African-American place of worship near downtown Dallas. But they say in the mid-1980s, when they were young adults, their longtime spiritual home dissolved into a place of fear and disgust because of what they describe as the inappropriate behavior of the church’s priest, Father Czeslaw “Chester” Domaszewicz. They say the priest sexually harassed them, grabbed at their breasts and buttocks, pulled on their bras and made suggestive comments. The twins say the diocese didn’t adequately investigate and deal with their allegations — and those of other parishioners. Myrna Dartson wrote multiple letters to the Dallas bishop this year detailing her allegations, only to feel rebuffed. But after recent inquiries by The Dallas Morning News, [the diocese reported the twins’ allegations to Dallas police, who have begun investigating.]( Commentary: Give women a shot at the priesthood [and they will clean up the Catholic church](, writes George P. Schultz. advertisement [( crime and courts Novus paid for nurses at assisted living facilities in exchange for patient access, plea agreement in fraud scheme alleges The marketing director for a shuttered hospice company has reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors over his role in recruiting patients as part of a $60 million health-care fraud scheme. Slade C. Brown, 49, of Plano has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health-care fraud. His is the sixth such plea agreement in the criminal investigation into Frisco-based Novus, which operated one of the largest hospice companies in North Texas before it closed in late 2015. [Brown faces up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced at a later date.]( The 16 defendants in the criminal case are charged with participating in a scheme that put profits over patient care. Allegations also involve illegally dispensing controlled substances, such as morphine or hydromorphone. As part of the scheme, the company was "aggressively medicating patients," which in some cases resulted in death, according to court documents. Dogged police work: One suspect in an infamous Mesquite puppy-snatching [was arrested near the Texas-Mexico border](, but a second man remains at large. Random shooting: A 15-year-old girl was wounded [after a gunman fired into a crowd]( in Fort Worth. politics Darlene Ewing, who helped turn Dallas blue in a decade as Democratic Party chair, dies at 64 Darlene Ewing, the longtime Democratic Party chairwoman, [died Friday at age 64.]( During a decade as the party's chairwoman, she helped usher in a period of dominance for Democrats in county elections. From 2005 until she resigned in June 2015, Democrats swept local judicial races and moved into the district attorney's office. The county's Democratic Party lost only one contested election during Ewing's tenure: the contentious race between former District Attorney Craig Watkins and Republican Susan Hawk. "We've done what they said couldn't be done — and much more," Ewing said in 2015. "It's been an honor to serve, and I'm excited for the future." Editorial: Republican lawmakers, [don’t take revenge on Texas’ big blue urban cities.]( Commentary: Recounts are always unsatisfying, [but we'd better get used to them](, writes Stephen L. Carter. advertisement [( (Saul Loeb/Getty Images) Photo of the Day President Donald Trump awards the Medal of Freedom to U.S. Navy veteran and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach during a ceremony Friday  in the East Room of the White House. [Staubach and six other prominent Americans honored Friday]( were the first medalists Trump has selected since taking office. EDITORS' PICKS - Holiday forecast: Dallas should be dry for Thanksgiving, [but rain could impact southbound travel plans.]( - Commentary: Unpaid family caretakers are the backbone of elder care in Texas, [and they could use a break](, writes Bob Jackson. - Defense hiring: With a $22 billion F-35 contract on the way, [Lockheed Martin will add jobs in Fort Worth.]( - Macabre memorabilia: Designer clothing that belonged to Dallas star Sharon Tate, killed in the 1960s Manson cult murders, [is up for auction.]( - Books: Fort Worth author Jeff Guinn's book on Jim Jones and Jonestown [gets the TV treatment on Sundance.]( Finally... New East Dallas restaurant serves Laotian soul food — plus a sweet family story When Donny Sirisavath talks about his mom, his voice cracks. "My mom," he says. "She's my everything." His words are laced with regret. His mom sold her Thai restaurant when Donny was in his 20s, and he remembers saying at the time, "Mom, I'm not ready." Donny became a Hewlett Packard field engineer instead of working for the family business. "My mom's my inspiration," he says of the Laotian refugee who moved to Texas in the late 1980s. "She didn't leave me with a lot of money -- and she wasn't educated. But she left me with a passion for cooking." He let that passion simmer until the end of his mom's life, when she challenged him: "You have a gift and you should use it," he recalls her saying. Seven years later, [Donny will honor his mom with Khao Noodle Shop](, opening Nov. 20 in East Dallas. 👋 That's all for this evening! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. Share the love! If you like this newsletter, please [check out our other newsletters here](. Do you have feedback? Send your thoughts, questions, praise and corrections to [newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com](mailto:newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com?subject=Evening%20Roundup%20Feedback).[Dennis Jansen](mailto:djansen@dallasnews.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) STAY CONNECTED WITH US  [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Reddit](  [OTHER NEWSLETTERS]( [SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS]( [Unsubscribe](  |  [Manage Preferences](  |  [Privacy Policy](  |  [Contact](  |  [Advertise]( You received this message because you signed up for this Dallas Morning News newsletter or it was forwarded to you. Copyright 2018 - [The Dallas Morning News]( | [1954 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75201](#)