My Fox Orlando
May 13, 2010
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/faith_news/051210man-claims-sexual-assault-by-former-orlando-priest
A 34-year-old man has come forward with allegations that he was sexually assaulted back in the late 1980s by a former Orlando priest.
Jason Bell said he met Richard Emerson at St. Charles Borromao Church in Orlando . He said when he was 11 years old, Emerson started assaulting him and that it continued for at least five years.
Bell filed a civil lawsuit against Emerson late Wednesday. He said, "I had a couple of friends who knew him. I went boating with him, then he became my mentor, gaining my trust."
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| Jason Bell, 34, has come forward with allegations that he was sexually assaulted back in the late 1980s by former Orlando priest. |
Bell said Emerson would provide alcohol and pornographic movies and take advantage of him. Bell said he waited so long to come forward because, "I thought I'd burn in hell, going after a priest. You just didn't do that. Plus, I worried no one would believe me."
"We trust the alleged victim's attorney will allow us to meet with the alleged victim to discuss his situation," said a spokeswoman with the Orlando Archdiocese . "We pray for all those involved in this situation."
Lawyers for Bell tell FOX 35 that there are three other sexual assault cases pending against Emerson, who left the Orlando Archdiocese in 2005.
Emerson also worked at St. Peter's Church and School in DeLand and has also been in Gary, Indiana, where another person came forward accusing him of sexual assault allegations.
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