List of Accused Priests in Idaho
Clergy sexual abuse in the Idaho Diocese is a long-standing issue with a significant impact on the trustworthiness of the Catholic church. Credible accusations date back to the 1950s, including child sex abuse and sexually inappropriate behavior with adult victims. Survivors have experienced mistrust and trauma at the hands of clergy members of the Diocese of Boise and the Roman Catholic church.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to supporting and seeking justice for clergy sexual abuse survivors. Our proven track record of holding credibly accused clergy accountable has helped many clients recover from trauma incurred in the Boise Diocese. Read on to learn what legal steps survivors can take, the support available, and how our lawyers help you navigate Idaho sex abuse laws.
Table of Contents
| Last Name | First Name | Diocese | Status | Accusations (Summary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arokiam | Francis | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | Arockima was named publicly as credibly accused by the Boise diocese in 10/2019, and was expelled from the diocese. |
| Garcia | Ruben Idalio | Diocese of Boise ID | Settled | Boise diocese priest accused of abuse of a boy in the mid-1970s, who was also accused of abuse in 1981 in ID. Garcia left San Bernardino diocese in 1987 and was incardinated into the Diocese of Tijuana Mexico in 1990. |
| Ferretti | Augustine J. | Diocese of Boise ID | Settled | A woman filed suit against the Jesuits and the Boise Diocese in 2008 for abuse by Ferreti in the 1970s. Several other women came forward with similar complaints, and the case was settled in 2011. |
| Baltazar | Carmelo Melchior | Diocese of Boise ID | Convicted | Extern priest from the Philippines’ Diocese of Malolos, who abused boys over a 20-year period while assigned in the Phillippines, the Diocese of Cleveland, US Navy, Diocese of Boise, and Diocese of San Diego. Convicted in 1984; sentenced to seven years. |
| Faucher | W. Thomas | Diocese of Boise ID | Convicted | Retired canon lawyer, writer, arrested for possession of marijuana, LSD and ecstasy, and 12 counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Pleaded guilty to child porn, sentenced to 25 years in prison with no parole, laicized in 2020. |
| Gould | William R. | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | After an allegation of sexually inappropriate behavior with a male under age 18, Gould was removed from St. George’s in Post Falls and included on the Boise diocese’s list of credibly accused. |
| Howell | Robert | Diocese of Boise ID | Guilty plea | Bishop Driscoll removed Howell from the diaconate in 2004 after learning of the investigation into child pornography. Howell was sentenced to 18 months in prison. |
| Meunier | Lucien J. | Diocese of Boise ID | Convicted | Pedro Luke, a Canadian priest, was accused of abusing at least one child as early as 1966. He was assigned to a Winslow AZ parish in 1972, convicted of abusing two boys in 1976, and charged with abusing six boys in British Columbia in the 1950s and 1960s. |
| Nash | William J. | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | As part of the reorganization plan, the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province, agreed to post on its website the names of all members who had been accused of sexual abuse. Nash’s name is included on this list. |
| Pauson | Richard J. | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | As part of the Oregon Province’s reorganization plan, the Society of Jesus agreed to post the names of all members who had been identified as perpetrators of sexual abuse on its website. Pauson’s name is included on this list. |
| Schuck | Martin J. | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | Diocese of Brooklyn NY priest. Named publicly by the Boise diocese as credibly accused on its list in 10/2019. It notes incidents 1974-1976 while assigned to St. Catherine’s in Kamiah ID, reported in 2003. Schuck died 10/19/1991. |
| Kuiper | Keith Michael | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | Kuiper was named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese in 10/2019, for incidents occurring 1974-1975. |
| King | Colman H. | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | King was first named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese in its 10/24/2019 revised list. He was assigned to Immaculate Conception in Buhl ID and St. Rita’s in Kellogg. |
| Later | Morse | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | The diocese named Morris publicly as credibly accused in 10/2019 for incidents in the 1960s and 1970s. He later died 6/1/2000. |
| Simmons | Donald W. | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | Named publicly as credibly accused by the diocese on its list in 10/2019. It notes reports in 2002 of incidents in 1950 and 1956, while assigned to St. John’s Cathedral in Boise and St. Alphonsus in Wallace. Deceased. |
| Worsley | James | Diocese of Boise ID | Accused | In 1993, a priest was accused of molesting a boy for four years while assigned to St. Paul’s Catholic Center. He admitted the abuse, left active priesthood in 1994, and was laicized. |
About Clergy Sexual Abuse
Clergy sexual abuse, also known as clerical sexual abuse, occurs when a person with a position of authority in the church engages in unethical, inappropriate, and exploitative sexual behavior towards an individual under their spiritual care. This abuse severely erodes the trust a victim has in the church and may lead to depression, anxiety, and emotional and physical trauma.
Victims of the Diocese of Boise must report the abuse and seek legal action. Begin with a free, confidential consultation with a lawyer who has experience dealing with alleged abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. An Idaho attorney will take steps to bring a claim against the abuser, including collecting evidence, representing the victim at trial, and negotiating a settlement.
Legal Support for Survivors in Idaho
With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, survivors of clergy sexual abuse can expect an expert, results-driven attorney to guide them through the Idaho legal process for highly sensitive child sexual abuse cases. Survivors can file a civil lawsuit that may result in substantial monetary compensation for damages. Our firm provides free consultation, evidence collection, negotiation and settlement, and trial representation.
Laws and Regulations in Idaho
As of a 2006 law change, there are some cases of child sex abuse where there is no time limit for a victim to file a suit against the abuser. However, any incident before 2006 is still subject to a statute of limitations. Idaho has a delayed statute of limitations for child sexual abuse suits, with a timeline of 5 years from the day the victim turns 18.
However, Idaho recognizes the Discovery Rule, which is a legal extension that delays the start of the statute of limitations. Following the Discovery Rule, victims of sexual abuse can file a lawsuit after they discover or should have discovered an injury related to the abuse. The statute of limitations begins to run at the time of discovery, and the victim has 5 years from that point to file suit.
Filing a Clergy Sexual Abuse Lawsuit in Idaho
Your decision to file a civil suit against the Boise Diocese can be stressful and bring up traumatic memories. Fortunately, working with a compassionate and experienced clergy abuse lawyer will help you navigate the process. When you are ready to seek justice against the party accused of sexual abuse, there are several steps involved.
- Contact an experienced clergy abuse attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
- Gather evidence to support your case. This may include your medical records, photos, recordings of conversations, emails, text messages, and more.
- Work through negotiation and settlement with your experienced lawyer who understands the sensitive nature of cases of sex abuse.
- If the liable party is unwilling to negotiate and settle the case reasonably, your lawyer will prepare your case for court and support you through the process.
Support Resources for Survivors in Idaho
If you’re a survivor of sexual assault from a clergy member or other church employees, finding both legal and emotional support is important to help your healing process. Idaho has extensive services available, including:
- The Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, which works throughout Idaho with tribal communities, government programs, and private organizations to end sexual violence and provide support to survivors.
- The Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center (DVSAC), which serves Idaho Falls and the surrounding area. DVSAC provides a free crisis phone line, support groups for victims of sexual assault, court advocacy, individual counseling, and more.
- Faces of Hope, a provider of free crisis intervention services in Boise and Meridian.
- Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA), which provides resources to all genders and has a 24-hour hotline, therapy and support groups, court advocacy, secure shelters, and more.
- Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests, also known as SNAP, is a national resource for victims of Catholic priests and other clergy members. They do not currently have a location in Idaho, but the site provides resources for victims of child sexual abuse, child pornography, and more.
Notable Cases and Outcomes in Idaho
In 2019, the Diocese of Boise released a list of accused priests in Idaho following an Associated Press investigation that discovered many credibly accused clergy members who left active priesthood were living with little or no oversight. Successfully convicted cases include:
- Deacon Robert Howell, who pled guilty to viewing online child pornography at Seattle’s Casey Family Programs, a foster child counseling service. He was sentenced in 2005 to 18 months in prison.
- Boise priest Thomas Faucher was arrested in 2018 by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and charged with sexual exploitation of a child. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole, where he died in 2020.
- Augustine J. Feretti was credibly accused of child abuse by multiple defendants in several suits. A woman filed suit against the Boise Diocese and the Jesuits alleging abuse by Feretti when he was at Lapwai Catholic Church in Nez Perce in the 1980s. He was also named in a suit against the Helena MT Diocese for abuse at St. Ignatius Mission. He appears on the Helena Diocese’s list posted online, the Great Falls-Billings list of credibly accused priests, and the Jesuits West Province list.
Our attorneys have reviewed public and private settlement data related to Idaho clergy abuse settlements. Depending on the circumstances of your case, these cases may be fairly valued in the $400,000 to $950,000 range. In cases of extreme conduct or if that case were to go before a jury, damages could exceed $1 million.
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers?
The traumatic, sensitive nature of abuse cases requires a law firm committed to supporting you every step of the way.
| $14 Million Priest grooming and handling | $4 Million Deacon assault and rape | $3 Million Clergy child abuse filed in adulthood |
| $3 Million Volunteer-perpetrated Catholic church abuse | $2 Million Religious school priest teen sexual abuse | $2 Million Clergy abuse case filed against a deceased priest |
Our lawyers understand how frightening it is to address past abuse, and we are dedicated to getting you justice while you heal. We’ve secured settlements for multiple victims of credibly accused clergy and have the expertise to take on your case in Idaho.
Contact Us
It can be difficult to take the first steps in seeking justice for yourself or a loved one who was a victim of abuse in the Boise Diocese. Fortunately, our skilled lawyers are ready to stand by your side and navigate your case from consultation until trial and settlement.
Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today and schedule a free consultation. Call us at (888) 424-5757 or reach out to us online.
All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.
