According to court records, one of the diary entries stated, "I am a child molester."
Timmons was arrested Oct. 31 on charges of 17 counts of child molestation. The priest waived extradition proceedings in Chicago and agreed to return to the west coast. Three men claim Timmons molested them while they were teenagers at Camp St. Michael, a Catholic summer camp founded by Timmons, and in the rectory of St. Eugene's Church in Santa Rosa. The incidents allegedly occurred between 1971-78. If convicted, Timmons faces up to 136 years in prison.
Timmons was relieved of his church duties at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Eureka nearly 2 years ago when the allegations surfaced and placed in a church-sponsored treatment program for pedophiles in Jemez Springs, N.M. Later he was sent to work and study at Chicago's Institute for Spiritual Leadership.
A civil suit, settled in August, charged a monsignor, Timmons and another priest with sexual abuse. The 2 victims received a $500,000 settlement in their claims against the monsignor and the other priest, but the case against Timmons continued. Prosecutors were unable to pursue criminal charges against Timmons until others came forward recently with new, more serious allegations including lewd and lascivious acts, oral copulation, and sodomy with children all under age 14 in California. Sources: San Francisco Chronicle 11/2/95, 11/1/95, 8/10/95; Chicago Sun-Times 11/2/95; San Jose Mercury News Service 11/10/95, 11/3/95, 11/1/95
Llanos, who served at St. Barnabas and St. Lucy's Catholic churches, allegedly molested 5 boys, ages 11-14, between 1973-90. The first victim, who came forward in Nov. '94, claims he was molested by Llanos when he was a teen.
Llanos' attorney said he would file legal challenges to the charges, saying they are unconstitutional because the statute of limitations had expired. Source: San Jose Mercury News Service 11/15/95, 11/14/95
Melissa Knight and Jayne Relaford Brown said they were molested by Warmer in '68 at his Lemon Grove church. Warmer, who is the senior minister at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Coronado, has maintained his innocence and will pay no money in the settlement. Source: California State University at Long Beach Daily 49er, 10/5/95
Brimmer was forced to resign from his position at the 6,000 member church in San Jose when allegations surfaced that he had molested 6 boys, ages 11-16, during sleepovers at his home from 1990-93. Brimmer has maintained his innocence since the charges surfaced in '93.
Brimmer's former roommate, Pablo Boas, also a former youth minister at the church, pleaded guilty to 8 counts of molestation and faces 3 years in prison. Source: San Jose Mercury News 4/4/95
The Jacksonville junior high bible instructor agreed to have no contact with the student and was given 3 years' probation, and is forbidden to have any contact with children.
If Rake successfully completes his probation, adjudication will take effect--meaning he will not have a conviction, but the record of the charge will be open to the public.
According to Assistant State Attorney Shauna Wright, Rake and the girl were involved in a relationship since last year. Florida's age of consent is 16. Rake did not complete the school year and will not return to Trinity. Source: Jacksonville Times-Union
The allegations capped 3 years of increasingly fractious relations between leaders of the Men's Club and Doherty, 52, who arrived at St. Vincent in '91. Doherty admitted withdrawing the funds, but claimed that under church law pastors have complete control over money raised in the church's name. Doherty eventually repaid the amount withdrawn.
"Since he gave the money back, there's no victim," said Men's Club President Jerry Gerrity. "It's because it's a priest. If I did it, I'd be in jail."
Doherty was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by police and state prosecutors.
In December Doherty evicted the club from church grounds after leaders refused to dissolve their status as an independent corporation. Shortly after the club was ousted, Margate police detective Bill Creelman said he began to receive--anonymously--copies of canceled checks from St. Vincent's accounts and "reports" detailing Doherty's alleged financial improprieties.
"When the money goes into the collection basket, it becomes the bishop's, and Father Doherty can do what he wants with it," said Creelman. Source: Miami Herald 8/31/95
"When the money goes into the collection basket, Father Doherty can do what he wants with it."
Jailing the couple would mean foster care for all but the oldest child. All of the children have mental and emotional problems. Their IQs range from 52-86, with 80 being the threshold for declaring a person learning-disabled.
The complicated case has left the children in the custody of their mother, Deborah, 44, until a decision is made, provided she no longer has contact with her brother, William, 64.
About 23 years ago William asked Deborah to join him to find God, saying he was chosen to usher in an era of peace that would begin in the year 2000 and that the Book of Leviticus instructed him to take a mate from his own family.
In Dec. '93 officials were told that William had molested one of the children. Blood tests confirmed they are siblings and that their youngest daughter, 1, was their child. Incest charges were filed in March.
William, who builds plexiglass pyramids, which he claims control hurricanes, asteroids and the fate of humanity, said that if he is jailed he will not be able to protect the Earth when asteroids come. Source: Orlando Sentinel 10/2/95
The woman, 34, complained to authorities that Hirschmann assaulted her between March 21-24, 1995. She said she was intimidated by him and was afraid to report the incidents until recently. The woman said she received religious counseling from Hirschmann at his home, then approached her where she works and sexually assaulted her while he held her arms behind her back.
Hirschmann was a sheriff's volunteer chaplain from March 1993-August 1995. Sheriff's officials report that some deputies mentioned they were uneasy around Hirschmann and complained that he "spun too many tales." Others who knew him said he often bragged about being a former CIA agent and had represented himself as a victim's advocate for the sheriff's office. Source: Orlando Sentinel
Church officials contend that in the 80s society knew little about the problems and that priests were sent for psychological counseling. They noted that some priests were defrocked or simply, and quietly, asked to resign from priesthood. The Catholic Diocese of Orlando says it now takes immediate action when complaints are lodged.
In 1986 the Orlando diocese paid a Seminole County family $250,000 in an out-of-court settlement after arbitrators ruled that a priest did have an affair with a parishioner and fondled her daughter, 12.
The priest in that case was not named, but records filed with the 5th District Court of Appeals in Daytona Beach identify him as O'Dowd.
O'Dowd was charged in 1983 with lewd assault on a girl, 12, after she accused him of fondling her breasts twice when he was an assistant pastor at St. Charles Morromeo in College Park. O'Dowd, 64, is now assigned to Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lantant near West Palm Beach. Source: Miami Herald 2/27/95
Calicott was accused of molesting 2 boys nearly 20 years ago. After he was reinstated Calicott made a statement at mass that he never admitted being a child molester or a pedophile, but that "something occurred that should not have occurred."
Calicott also mentioned that doctors assured him he is not a pedophile and poses no risk to children. He fought back tears during his recollection of his anger and depression during his time away from the pulpit and asked the congregation to pray that his anger be removed.
In March '94 two men reported to the Chicago Archdiocese that Calicott had molested them when they were teenagers in 1976 when he was an associate pastor at St. Ailbe Catholic Church in Chicago. Calicott was placed on administrative leave in April and sent for counseling in Maryland while a sexual misconduct investigation was conducted.
The archdiocese has suspended more than 20 priests for sexual misconduct and has a policy barring them from returning to a parish ministry if they have sexually abused minors. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin made an exception and allowed Calicott to resume his duties because of his overwhelming popularity and psychological evaluations that reported Calicott is not a "sexual predator" and poses no threat to children. Protesters gathered outside the cardinal's home the day of Calicott's return.
"The treatment of a criminal should not be based on his popularity," said Barbara Blaine, founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Calicott agreed to continue professional help. In a text agreement with parishioners Calicott pledged to have a priest with him at Holy Angels to serve as a "resident monitor." Most of the parishioners interviewed said they approved Calicott's return.
"My observations of the father is that he is an excellent example of Christian living," said Sister Helen, principal of Holy Angels School. Sources: Chicago Sun-Times 10/23/95, 10/13/95; Hartford Courant 10/16/95; San Jose Mercury News Service 10/13/95
The victims, ages 13-17, were shown sexually explicit videotapes and abused several times between April and July.
Weller faces up to 7 years in prison and up to $10,000 for each conviction. The pornographic materials charge is punishable up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Weller, who was released on $5,000 bail, was removed from pastoral duties of the United Methodist Church after his arrest in August. Source: The Southern Illinoisan 10/7/95
Gallie Isaac Sr., 78, was recommended by jury to serve 25 years in prison for his sexual crimes. The pastor of Isaac Park Free Baptist Church was indicted in '94 on charges of molesting 8 boys from 1984-94. Four of the boys, ages 11-14 at the time of the incidents, testified saying that he engaged in masturbation and oral sex with them.
"He was saying stuff like, 'God's watching you, and you're doing good,' and 'All the boys do this,' " the witness, now 18, said.
One of the victims said Isaac played a Halloween tape before having sex with him and told him that having sex was okay.
"He began to touch me and he would whisper, 'I will protect you . . . from the house,' " another alleged victim, now 25, told jurors.
Formal sentencing for Isaac, father of 6 and former county clerk, is scheduled for Dec. 14. Isaac is free on bond until sentencing and faces a second trial on charges relating to the 4 other alleged victims. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader 11/4/95, 10/31/95
Melancon was released on a $1 million anonymous bond after his arrest. His arraignment was set for Oct. 16. In a separate civil case filed June 6 the priest was accused of fondling an Annunciata altar boy when he was 6 or 7 years old and of having intercourse with him approximately 2 years later.
Prosecutors said the suit states that Melancon and the boy continued to have sex at least once a week until Melancon was transferred. During the civil court hearing on that case a police detective interviewed another potential victim, 11, who alleges he began having sex with Melancon when pastor of St. Genevieve Church in Thibodaux in the 70s.
Records show Melancon was also accused of sexual harassment in a separate case in 1993 by a parishioner of St. Genevieve. The diocese settled with the parishioner for $30,000. Source: The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) 6/17/95, 9/16/95
His arrest came after a 7 month investigation, prompted by a Baltimore area man, 34, who was an altar boy at St. Matthias Apostle Church. The man claimed that he had been abused by Schaefer and 3 other priests when he was a child.
Schaefer was 1 of 4 priests who were arrested on sexual abuse charges in February. The Archdiocese of Washington said all 4 admitted abuse and were dismissed from their positions.
Schaefer apologized to his victims in court and asked for forgiveness, "I had sexual activity with these gentlemen. I abused my position as a priest. I genuinely liked each one of them and tried to help them in many ways," Schaefer said in a soft voice. "But with them, my feelings weakened my self-control at times, resulting in sexual activity with them. I didn't realize my conduct would hurt them. I never wanted to hurt or harm them."
After Schaefer addressed the court Judge William B. Spellbring handed down 4 consecutive 4-year prison terms for 4 counts of child abuse. He also received a 4-year term for 1 count of sodomy to be served concurrently with the other sentences. Schaefer's sentence exceeded state guidelines--up to 3 years on each count--but was less than the 20 years prosecutors sought.
Rev. Alphonsus Smith, 70, also pleaded guilty and is set to be sentenced Dec. 19.
Two other St. Matthias priests are charged with child abuse have trial dates set for late November and early December. Rev. Edward B. Pritchard, 51, is charged with molesting 3 boys at the church and Edward T. Hartel, 59, is accused of orally sodomizing the former St. Matthias altar boy. Both men are scheduled for trial later this year. Source: The Washington Post 10/24/95, 8/5/95, 2/16/95, 2/9/95
Weekley kidnapped the boys just weeks after prison chaplain Rev. Larry Rucker raised $500 to secure his $5,000 bail for a charge of fondling a South Dakota girl, 8, in a swimming pool. Weekley reportedly stole Rucker's car and abducted the boys on Oct. 14. Sources: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Canada) 10/25/95; Chicago Sun-Times 10/27/95; Hartford Courant 10/25/95; San Jose Mercury News Service 10/27/95, 10/26/95, 10/25/95, 10/24/95, 10/23/95
Charges stem from a '94 incident in which Eliscard visited the teenager while she was at home alone. According to police, he was allegedly molesting her when her father arrived and stopped him. Reports say the father initially kept the incident a secret but after Eliscard returned to the home, unannounced, several weeks later he reported the incident to Monsignor John Dermond, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Police said Eliscard was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York City, in November as he attempted to flee to his native country of Haiti.
The terms of the agreement specify that Eliscard may return to Haiti but must be supervised by the bishop of Haiti. He is forbidden to have contact with minors in his ministry or his personal life.
Eliscard must also undergo psychological counseling and monthly reports must be sent to the Mercer County Probation Department. If he returns to New Jersey he would be subjected to sexual offender notification requirements and would have to register with authorities.
Eliscard has also worked as a visiting priest at parishes in Brooklyn, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Canada. Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer 7/8/95
Kohler was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to 2 charges of allegedly persuading a boy to pose for pornographic photographs. The photos were taken by another priest, William O'Connell, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to several sexual assault charges last year. Source: Courier-Post 7/25/95
Fortune, 35, sat outside the Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in the summer months dressed in clerical garb. He called himself Father Giustino Visconti and introduced himself to the pastor of Mount Carmel as a visiting Jesuit priest and was invited to say Mass. During Fortune's double life he told many people in the predominantly Italian neighborhood that he taught canon law at nearby Fordham University.
In addition, Fortune befriended a widow through a mutual friend. He gradually became part of her family and began investing the widow's $12,000 retirement savings, said police.
Doubts about Fortune's background arose when he stumbled and made mistakes in the liturgy. Source: San Jose Mercury News Service 11/17/95
Frederick Eikerenkoetter, 60, was named in the $100 million civil suit which accuses the clergyman of "offensively touching and caressing" his male assistant, 25, and then firing him after he resisted the minister's advances. Source: San Francisco Chronicle 10/10/95
The alleged abusers include 32 priests, 3 teachers, a college president, a nun and a janitor. The priests have been accused of molesting children, having sexual relations with adults and masturbating in classrooms.
The deposition was filed in connection with a series of lawsuits against Rev. Earl Bierman and the diocese. Bierman, the only priest named in the deposition, is serving a 20-year sentence for abusing teenage boys in the 60s and 70s.
Several alleged victims said they reported the incidents when they happened, but Kriege claims there were no records to verify the complaints. Source: The Cincinnati Post 11/4/95
Lamberson, pastor of the Liberty Heights Free Will Baptist Church and academy, pleaded no contest to 2 molestation counts.
He is charged with molesting a girl, now 18, in Dec. 1991 and March 1992, when she was 13 and 14 years old. Source: Tulsa World 5/27/95
Feigley's wife Sandra Feigley and another cult member, Sandra Good, were charged with conspiracy to hinder the apprehension of Good's teenage daughter, who was the subject of the phone calls.
Feigley's plea comes 3 years after the case started but has been bogged down by motions filed by Feigley from the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon. The Feigleys were originally charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and conspiracy to commit offenses.
The girl, now 16, was being sought for assaulting a teacher when authorities discovered her relationship to the cult.
Sandra Feigley is accused of having group sex with Good's daughter, 14, and Steven Shaffer, a work-release inmate, while Feigely directed the encounter over the phone from the Huntingdon state prison.
Shaffer told authorities he routinely had sex with Sandra Feigley while her husband directed their activities over the phone. He said he was introduced to the girl and once had sex with her and Sandra Feigley.
During a case hearing, the girl said Shaffer raped her and that she and Sandra Feigley never had sex and that she never had any contact with George Feigley.
The girl's father and another cult member drowned in a storm sewer outside the State Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh while apparently trying to free Feigley. Source: The Patriot 9/23/95
The teenager and her infant daughter moved in with Aiken, his wife and their 3 girls after she was referred to Aiken by an educational program for teenage mothers. The girl reported that Aiken had come into her room while she was asleep, undressed her and began to rub her breasts.
"Sometimes I would say, 'no,' and sometimes I would just let it go because I didn't know what to do," the woman, now 19, said. Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer 10/6/95, 9/24/95
Retired Rev. Elmer Grosser testified that he saw at least 2 or 3 boys go with Bierman upstairs at the Blessed Sacrament church where Bierman was associate pastor in '72. Bierman said he had taken the boys to a basketball game and it was too late to take them home, so he let them stay the night, but Grosser didn't believe him. However, Grosser did not report the incidents, forbidding Bierman from taking any students to his suite.
Fort Thomas veterinarian John Secter is suing the diocese for an undisclosed amount claiming the diocese knew about Bierman's actions with boys as early as 1961 but did not do enough to protect future victims.
Bierman was convicted in '93 on criminal abuse charges and is serving a 20-year sentence at the Kentucky State Reformatory.
Secter claims Bierman rubbed his knees and thighs and once touched his genitals in incidents beginning in '72. Bierman also allegedly asked Secter to go to a meeting for gay priests with him. Bierman was suspended by then-Bishop Richard Ackerman. Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer 11/10/95
Ortiz-Deitz is representing himself in a series of 7 pending civil cases which involve allegations that he had sexual contact with boys from Roman Catholic parishes in Von Ormy and MacDona.
An attorney of record for the plaintiffs said 57th District Court Judge Charles A. Gonzales warned Ortiz-Deitz that he would be held in contempt if he did not answer questions during the Oct. 25 hearing.
Ortiz-Deitz was sentenced to three 20-year sentences in '94 as part of a "no contest" plea bargain to charges that he sometimes abused altar boys minutes before entering the sanctuary to say Mass. Source: Spokesman Review 8/17/94; San Antonio News-Express 10/26/95
The Robersons are alleged to have fraudulently obtained more than $27,000 in welfare aid between '91-95. They are also awaiting trial on multiple charges of rape and molestation in an alleged sex ring.
Mr. Roberson has been charged with 8 counts of 2nd-degree perjury and 1 count of 1st-degree theft. Mrs. Roberson has been accused of 9 counts of 2nd-degree perjury and 1 count of 1st-degree theft. The Robersons were not jailed, but a summons to appear in court was issued.
The charges stem from a report by Ross Carmen, a special investigator with the Department of Social and Health Service's Office of Special Investigations. The probable cause claims the Robersons fraudulently received AFDC payments of $10,181, medical payments of $4,960 and food stamps of $11,865.
Court documents allege that the Robersons used funds from the East Wenatchee Pentecostal Church of God and the neighboring food bank for their own personal expenses from '90-95. Court papers show the Robersons had exclusive control over the bank accounts and used those funds for vehicle payments, insurance and utilities.
According to the investigative report, Connie Roberson was given medical benefits in May 1990 while pregnant. The benefits were changed to AFDC benefits that July and Roby Roberson was added to the grant because he was not employed and lived in the household. Both Robersons are accused of filing false eligibility review forms with the state.
In addition to perjury and fraud charges, the Robersons have been charged with 22 counts of rape and child molestation. The Robersons each pleaded not guilty to 4 counts of 1st degree rape of a child and 4 counts of 1st degree child molestation. So far, 19 adults have been charged in a controversial case since January '94 with engaging in group sex with children.
Allegations began in early '94 when a girl, 9, told her foster care parents of abuse and orgies that was allegedly taking place at the church. Some observers believe a police officer now in charge of the girl has intimidated witnesses and encouraged fabrications.
Affidavits filed in Douglas Superior Court state that parents and children would meet in the church basement to sing and listen to scripture. Adults would then order the children to undress and have sex with them. Sources: Wenatchee World 7/21/95, Newsweek 5/8/95 & Seattle Post-Intelligence 10/6/95, 4/5/95
The boy also alleges that, in a previous incident, he was tied over a wood barrel and whipped for owning a tape player, which is against the Cupesi belief forbidding recreational pursuits. Cupesi is a remote colony in central Bolivia, near the town of Santa Cruz. Source: The London Free Press 10/31/95
The quints were made wards of the Ontario government in 1934 after they were born. A bitter 9-year custody battle returned the sisters to their parents, who are now deceased.
As a teenager, one of the quints confided in a Roman Catholic priest at their private school about the abuse. She said the priest advised her, "to continue to live with our parents and to wear a thick coat when we went for car rides." Source: The Ann Arbor News 9/26/95