Lawyers for a man who has alleged he was sexually assaulted by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick claim that the now-defrocked cardinal and other Catholic priests operated a “sex ring” involving multiple young boys and men that centered at McCarrick’s beach house on the Jersey Shore.
Allegations of ‘Sex Ring’ Operated by Catholic Priests
In his lawsuit, the John Doe plaintiff alleges that, as a teenager, he was groomed for a role in a sex ring operated by then-Bishop McCarrick, who was expelled from the ministry last year following decades of sexual abuse allegations. The lawsuit alleges that other priests procured victims and brought them to McCarrick’s Jersey Shore beach house, where McCarrick would choose victims from the young men present at the beach house and would pair other young men with the other priests visiting the beach house.
The plaintiff’s lawyers further alleged that McCarrick and the priests under his control engaged in open and obvious criminal sexual conduct that was covered up by the Catholic Church. Their lawsuit was filed in superior court in Middlesex County, New Jersey, against the Diocese of Metuchen, where McCarrick served as bishop, the Archdiocese of Newark, where he served as archbishop, and the catholic schools the plaintiff attended while growing up.
The lawsuit further alleged that young boys brought to McCarrick’s Sea Girt beach house were not only sexually abused and assaulted by McCarrick but also by other priests present at the beach house. The lawsuit named several individuals, including Gerald Ruane, Michael Walters, and John Laferrera, all of whom were recently listed by the Newark Archdiocese as having credible sexual abuse allegations made against them, along with former priests Andrew Thomas Hewitt and Anthony Nardino, as also having committed abuse against the John Doe plaintiff
Victims Come Forward to Allege Assaults
McCarrick has been named in multiple lawsuits filed over the past few years as having committed sexual abuse and assault of other individuals. James Grein filed suit last year alleging that McCarrick had abused him for nearly 20 years and that he had disclosed this abuse directly to Pope John Paul II. In another lawsuit, John Bellocchio, a former Catholic school teacher and principal, also alleged that McCarrick had abused him while serving as Archbishop of Newark.
Church officials also revealed that McCarrick had been accused in other lawsuits, two of which resulted in confidential settlements. In one case, settled for $80,000, a former priest turned lawyer alleged that McCarrick would invite young men to his Sea Girt beach house where they would share a bed with McCarrick.
McCarrick was ultimately removed from public ministry and defrocked last year when a former altar server revealed to a panel convened by the Archdiocese of New York that McCarrick had assaulted him, which included an incident where McCarrick cornered him in a bathroom. McCarrick was ultimately forced to resign from the College of Cardinals and he was removed from the clergy following a Vatican investigation into the abuse allegations.
Contact an Experienced Newark Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Sexual Assault Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with sexual assault in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at Hercules Law Group, LLC have successfully represented clients charged with sexual assault in Gloucester County, Camden County, Burlington County, and throughout New Jersey. Call (856) 372-5922 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 1 Gateway Center, Newark, NJ 07103, as well as offices located in Hamilton Township, Vineland, Freehold, Toms River, Neptune City, New Brunswick, Bridgewater, Princeton, Hoboken, Morristown, Jersey City, Flemington, Montclair, Hackensack, and New York City, NY.
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