New Orleans clergy abuse: details emerge after retired priest admits to kidnapping and child rape
Victim was going to testify about being forced to see a psychiatrist for lying or face expulsion from school after rape by Lawrence Hecker, now 93
The star witness in a clerical molestation case that has rocked one of the most Catholic cities in the US was going to tell a jury that his high school principal forced him to see a psychiatrist for “anger issues and fantasy stories” – or face expulsion – after reporting that a priest had raped him on campus.
Such shocking testimony was set to be delivered in a criminal trial against the retired priest, 93-year-old Lawrence Hecker, that was scheduled to begin Tuesday in New Orleans. But it was upended when the clergyman unexpectedly pleaded guilty to charges of child rape and kidnapping, a decision that guarantees him a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
Continue reading...Topics
-
Retired New Orleans priest pleads guilty to kidnapping and raping boy in 1970s
Lawrence Hecker, 93, is set to receive a life sentence after admitting to attacking boy in church bell tower. Shortly before a jury was supposed to be chosen for his trial on criminal charges of ...The Guardian - 1d -
Disgraced New Orleans priest pleads guilty to rape and kidnapping
An investigation revealed Lawrence Hecker had confessed to molesting multiple juveniles over his decades of service with the Archdiocese of New Orleans.CBS News - 10h -
Retired Louisiana Priest Pleads Guilty to Rape and Kidnapping Charges
Lawrence Hecker, who was indicted last year on charges related to a sexual assault in the 1970s, pleaded guilty on Tuesday just before jury selection for his trial was set to begin.The New York Times - 23h -
US ex-detective accused of kidnap and rape found dead on morning of trial
Roger Golubski, 71, accused of crimes spanning years, found dead in Kansas hours before jury selection set to begin. A former Kansas police detective accused of “the grossest acts of corruption a ...The Guardian - 2d -
Telegram partners with child safety group to scan content for sexual abuse material
Before the arrest of Telegram’s CEO, the platform had a reputation for resisting outside pressure to moderate content.NBC News - 22h -
Amid political chaos, Bank of Korea says it will boost short-term liquidity and deploy measures to stabilize the FX market
The announcement came shortly after the BOK held an emergency board meeting.CNBC - 15h -
New video of stowaway emerges as TSA speaks out on incident
Newly released video shows the stowaway who successfully managed to bypass security at JFK airport to board a Delta flight to Paris, being removed from a return flight after causing a disturbance. ...NBC News - 1d -
Republican senators brush aside Pete Hegseth misconduct allegations after meeting him
Republican senators who met Monday with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, brushed aside sexual assault and other allegations against him.NBC News - 1d
More from The Guardian
-
France in political crisis after no-confidence vote topples government
The Guardian - 3h -
South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, facing impeachment after martial law shock
The Guardian - 6h -
New York police search for person suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO in ‘brazen’ attack
The Guardian - 44m -
Mexico announces record drug seizure one week after Trump threatens tariffs
The Guardian - 1h -
Pete Hegseth says Trump told him to ‘keep fighting’ amid rumors he’ll be replaced by DeSantis
The Guardian - 8h