Caught
In 1990, Frank Fitzpatrick went public with accusations that Porter had molested him as a child in the '60s. Over the next two years, Fitzpatrick contacted the state police, the FBI, and the media, resulting in over 200 people coming forward and leveling charges of abuse against Porter. A 1992 segment on Porter's crimes on the ABC TV news magazine Primetime Live, hosted by Diane Sawyer, sparked national attention. Porter was arrested, tried and convicted of sexually abusing his children's babysitter in 1984. He served four months of a six-month prison sentence before his conviction was overturned by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
By 1993, dozens of lawsuits had cropped up against Porter in Minnesota, Texas and New Mexico; in Minnesota alone, he was charged with over 200 counts of sexual abuse. Porter's lawyer struck a plea bargain, and Porter was sentenced to 18–20 years in prison, with possibility of parole, with counseling, after six years. Parole was consistently denied.
Read more about this topic: James Porter (Catholic Priest)
Famous quotes containing the word caught:
“It is restful, tragedy, because one knows that there is no more lousy hope left. You know you’re caught, caught at last like a rat with all the world on its back. And the only thing left to do is shout—not moan, or complain, but yell out at the top of your voice whatever it was you had to say. What you’ve never said before. What perhaps you don’t even know till now.”
—Jean Anouilh (1910–1987)
“I thought I seen some mean little gals in my time, but you’re the meanest. You want to know how I know how mean you are? ‘Cause I’m mean. I’m smart and I’m mean. And you’re smart and you’re mean. And you never get caught and I never get caught.”
—John Lee Mahin (1902–1984)
“Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 5:5.
Simon to Jesus.