February 21, 2006

Lawsuit accuses head of Vianney high of sexual abuse

ST. LOUIS (MO)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

By Robert Patrick
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/21/2006

Father Robert Osborne, president of St. John Vianney High School, was sued Tuesday by the father of a former student who says Osborne "sexually, physically and emotionally abused" the boy.

The suit, which also names Vianney and the Marianists, who run Vianney, says Osborne coerced the boy into drinking alcoholic beverages, made sexual comments to him, hugged and kissed him and made "other overt and covert sexual contact with him."

The suit also says Osborne also watched and tried to watch and photograph the boy when he was undressed.

Osborne, informed of the lawsuit Tuesday morning by a Post-Dispatch reporter, said he was "shocked." "I never touched anyone inappropriately," Osborne said.

Posted by kshaw at February 21, 2006 01:03 PM