BishopAccountability.org
	Teen Claims Sex Abuse at Hands of Youth Minister By Ileana Varela CBS 4 [Florida] March 7, 2007 http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_066105915.html (CBS4) Pinecrest A Miami-Dade teen is suing the Archdiocese of Miami claiming it did not do enough to stop a sexually abusive Youth Minister. In her suit, the teenager, identified only as 'Jane Doe,' claims the Archdiocese received numerous complaints in 2004 that Youth Minister Anthony Ricco at St. Louis Catholic Church in Pinecrest was sexually abusing young girls. Among those alerted to his suspected behavior, the church's Pastor, Father James Fetscher, and Senior Youth Minister Paul Herring. The woman claims Father Fetscher and Herring took no action to protect the children at St. Louis Catholic Church, even after receiving complaints. In 2006, 'Jane Doe' said as a 15-year old, she was sexually abused by Ricco, who she claims also abused other girls in the New Life youth group, some as young as 13-years old. In December, 2006, Ricco pled no contest to nine counts of lewd and lascivious battery on a child. These counts include his sexual assaults on 'Jane Doe.' The woman's attorney, Jeffrey Herman, of Herman & Mermelstein PA, said the "the allegations are very disturbing given that the sexual abuse occurred last year after the Catholic Church knew Ricco was dangerous and supposedly had changed it policies regarding the protection of children."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.