NEWS

February 22, 2010
Priest banned from prison visits

Father Val Peter said he has had just about enough. The 75-year-old, and one-time director of Boys Town, visits inmates regularly.

Tracey Dyess more frequently than most. "The only reason I do this is she reminds me of a Boys Town kid," said Father Peter. "She has no family except a grandma in Texas."

Dyess was convicted of setting fire to a Griswold, Iowa home in March 2005, which killed two people. She has been in Iowa prisons for the last four years. Father Peter said he got in trouble at the Mitchellville Prison near Des Moines on a visit with Dyess.

"The corrections officer says 'I'm sorry, you can't take those notes out,'" said Father Peter. "'Aren't you Father Peter from Boys Town?' [he asks]. I said 'Yes.' I said 'what do you mean I can't take...I've been doing this... Well, I'm just sorry you're not gonna be able to and we need to take those notes and we need to read those notes."

Father Peter said he routinely took notes using prison paper and prison pencils on visits with Dyess the last two years. He said in this case, a corrections officer did not like the fact Father Peter jotted down the name of another officer.

"So, I took that name, I put it in my mouth, and I did a prophetic act," said Father Peter. He said he swallowed the notes, which ultimately started this on-going battle with the prison.

"Keep in mind that visiting is a privilege, and it can be terminated for good cause at any time," said Fred Scaletta, with the Iowa Department of Corrections. Scaletta said Father Peter could be allowed back in so long as he sticks to the rules. Still, Father Peter has his concerns.

"Now, remember, I've been going to prisons for 25 years," said Father Peter. "I could write a Michelin guide to America's prisons. Mitchellville is not going to get a good rating. I can tell you that now."

Father Peter still talks to Dyess on the phone, about two or three times per week. Ultimately, he wants Governor Chet Culver to commute her sentence. He said she is a good person who simply had a terrible childhood.

BACK TO NEWS PAGE