March 03, 2005

Woman settles Nome clergy abuse case

ALASKA
Fairbanks News-Miner

By MARY BETH SMETZER
Staff Writer

A settlement in the $1 million range has been reached in a child sexual abuse case against Father Jim Poole--who founded radio station KNOM in Nome--as well as the Fairbanks Catholic Diocese and the Society of Jesus Oregon Province said Ken Roosa, the attorney for Elsie Boudreau, formerly identified as Jane Doe 1.

Monday, lawyers on both sides of the case signed off on a binding agreement for a settlement that is still being worked out, Roosa said.

"We're working on it. I don't know anything more than that," Roosa said. "All we've got to be is be patient."

Boudreau claims Poole sexually abused her repeatedly from the time she was 10 until she was 16 years old.

A year ago this month, Boudreau sued Poole, a Jesuit who worked 40 years in Alaska.

Boudreau accused Poole of kissing and fondling her dozens of times, starting in 1978, during summer visits to Nome, and continuing until she was 16. The abuse included heavy petting and having her lie on top of him, the lawsuit stated.

Posted by kshaw at March 3, 2005 07:20 AM