{"id":133152,"date":"2024-12-04T08:47:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T01:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=133152"},"modified":"2024-12-04T08:47:48","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T01:47:48","slug":"retired-new-orleans-priest-pleads-guilty-to-kidnapping-and-raping-boy-in-1970s-new-orleans-clergy-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=133152","title":{"rendered":"Retired New Orleans priest pleads guilty to kidnapping and raping boy in 1970s | New Orleans clergy abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">Shortly before a jury was supposed to be chosen for his trial on criminal charges of kidnapping and raping a boy in the mid-1970s, the self-acknowledged serial child molester and retired<strong> <\/strong>Roman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/catholicism\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Catholic<\/a> priest Lawrence Hecker pleaded guilty on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The 93-year-old is scheduled to receive a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on 18 December in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/new-orleans\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">New Orleans<\/a>\u2019s state criminal courthouse, where it has been rare for a Catholic clergyman to be charged \u2013 much less convicted \u2013 in connection with the church\u2019s decades-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/new-orleans-clergy-abuse\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">clerical molestation scandal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">Hecker\u2019s attorney, Robert Hjortsberg, said on Tuesday that his client \u201ctook responsibility for the charges \u2026 and now everyone involved will have the opportunity to move forward\u201d.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"9d6af053-1144-4627-8307-d9c13cb40189\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\" dcr-1your1i\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:3,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Louisiana Catholic church turns to federal court to attack law aiding abuse victims&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;9d6af053-1144-4627-8307-d9c13cb40189&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;richLink&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2024\/sep\/21\/louisiana-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-victims-lawsuit-window&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:0,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">\u201cIt was his decision, and he made it of his own free will,\u201d Hjortsberg said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The victim in the trial Hecker avoided maintained that he was an underage student at a Catholic high school to which Hecker had ties when the priest choked him unconscious and raped him in about 1975.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The accuser reported telling his school principal about the rape, which unfolded in a space in a church bell tower that had been converted into a weightlifting room. But the accuser has said the principal, Paul Calamari, never alerted police and instead arranged for him to undergo psychological treatment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">Hecker initially denied those accusations. But in 1999, he did admit in writing to Catholic church leaders in New Orleans that he had molested or sexually harassed several other children whom he met through his ministry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">New Orleans\u2019s Catholic archdiocese nonetheless allowed Hecker to return to work before he retired a few years later. The archdiocese then waited until 2018 to finally notify the public that Hecker \u2013 along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bishop-accountability.org\/news2020\/05_06\/2020_05_19_Vargas_NewOrleans.htm\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Calamari<\/a> and dozens of their fellow clerics \u2013 had been the subject of substantial, credible child sexual abuse allegations that eventually drove the institution to file for bankruptcy protection in 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The Guardian managed to obtain a copy of Hecker\u2019s 1999 admissions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2023\/jun\/20\/new-orleans-priest-lawrence-hecker-child-abuse\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">exposed them<\/a> to the public for the first time in June 2023 despite a seal on information pertaining to the bankruptcy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">In August 2023, the Guardian shared the confession with the New Orleans CBS affiliate WWL <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/louisiana\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Louisiana<\/a>, and both outlets confronted Hecker on camera in August 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">Hecker, during that confrontation, verified that his written confession was authentic. And a couple of weeks later, the New Orleans district attorney, Jason Williams, secured a grand jury indictment charging Hecker in connection with the child rape and kidnapping charges.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The case was delayed for more than a year over questions about Hecker\u2019s mental competence to withstand a criminal trial. He has been grappling with dementia associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">Additionally, at a trial date set for September, moments before jury selection, the judge who was first assigned Hecker\u2019s case \u2013 Benedict Willard \u2013 suddenly recused himself from the matter, citing a personality clash with the lead prosecutor, the assistant district attorney Ned McGowan. Judge Nandi Campbell then took over the case and accepted Hecker\u2019s guilty plea on Tuesday as the first panel of prospective jurors waited in the hallway to begin the selection process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">As many as a dozen witnesses who allege enduring a range of sexually abusive acts by Hecker after he met them during their childhoods between the 1960s and 80s were prepared to testify against him. Williams said on Tuesday that he had called to inform them that Hecker had admitted his guilt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">Richard Trahant, the civil attorney representing the main victim in Hecker\u2019s case, said he hoped the priest \u201csuffers miserably\u201d after admitting what he did to his client, who was traveling when news of the plea broke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The law enforcement investigation into Hecker has since widened into an inquiry over whether the archdiocese ran a child sex-trafficking ring responsible for the \u201cwidespread \u2026 abuse of minors dating back decades\u201d that was \u201ccovered up and not reported\u201d to authorities, according to statements sworn under oath by police.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">None of Hecker\u2019s superiors have been charged with crimes in the case against him. One of the supporting witnesses prepared to testify against Hecker, Aaron Hebert, said Tuesday he hopes that changes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">\u201cHecker is just the tip of the iceberg,\u201d Hebert said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The last Catholic clergyman charged in New Orleans with child rape was deacon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwltv.com\/article\/news\/investigations\/losing-faith-how-a-monstrous-new-orleans-deacon-preyed-on-victims-for-decades-and-avoided-justice\/289-905434b2-7222-4f76-84f6-ec7159bd01f3\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">George Brignac<\/a>, who died while awaiting trial. The indictment pending against him at the time of his death was the last of four unsuccessful attempts to criminally prosecute Brignac. He had previously been arrested three times between 1977 and 1988, was acquitted at trial once and saw prosecutors drop charges against him on two other occasions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">The archdiocese on Tuesday issued a statement saying in part: \u201cIt is our hope that today\u2019s court proceedings bring healing and peace to the survivor and all survivors of sexual abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">Williams on Tuesday hailed Hecker\u2019s guilty plea as \u201ca critical moment for some little boys who are now men\u201d and had been living with the effects of their abuse at the retired priest\u2019s hands for decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\">\u201cThis ends the criminal legal battle for these survivors,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1eu361v\"><em><span data-dcr-style=\"bullet\"\/> In the US, call or text the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.childhelp.org\/hotline\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Childhelp<\/a> abuse hotline on 800-422-4453 or visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.childhelphotline.org\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">their website<\/a> for more resources and to report child abuse or DM for help. For adult survivors of child abuse, help is available at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ascasupport.org\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">ascasupport.org<\/a>. In the UK, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nspcc.org.uk\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">NSPCC<\/a> offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (<a href=\"https:\/\/napac.org.uk\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Napac<\/a>) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or <a href=\"https:\/\/bravehearts.org.au\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Bravehearts<\/a> on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueknot.org.au\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Blue Knot Foundation<\/a> on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.childhelplineinternational.org\/child-helplines\/child-helpline-network\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Child Helplines International<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2024\/dec\/03\/lawrence-hecker-retired-new-orleans-priest-pleads-guilty-child-kidnapping-rape-boy\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shortly before a jury was supposed to be chosen for his trial on criminal charges of kidnapping and raping a boy in the mid-1970s, the self-acknowledged serial child molester and &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=133152\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8629],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-133152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-u-s","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=133152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133152\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=133152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=133152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=133152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}