Former CFO of JP school facing sex abuse allegations was also boy scout leader

Fox Boston
March 11, 2015

http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/28397390/former-cfo-of-jp-school-facing-sex-abuse-allegations-was-also-boy-scout-leader

JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A small group stood outside the Italian Home for Children in Jamaica Plain Wednesday advocating for sex abuse victims amid allegations that the home's former finance director abused a child there decades ago.

FOX25 spoke exclusively with the attorney for the accuser, who claimed the school's former CFO George Forte, Jr. sexually abused him at the Italian Home for Children over a period of three years.

"My client got to know George Forte, was groomed by George Forte, given gifts - things like that," said Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer known for his previous cases involving sexual abuse and the Catholic Church.

Garabedian spoke exclusively to FOX25, saying that his client was just 6 years old when he went to the Italian Home in the early 1980s. He was an orphan with a troubled past. The home confirms Forte worked there from 1980 until November of 2014 when he resigned, which is about the time the alleged victim came forward.

The Italian Home declined to interview, but sent a statement that read in part: "The allegation was brought to the organization's attention in 2014, and we immediately hired outside counsel to oversee an investigation. This investigation found no evidence to support the allegation."

FOX25 went to Forte's North Attleboro home and called him, but got no response. We also learned his involvement with children goes beyond the Italian Home. He volunteered with local boy scout troops in 2013. His scouting days are now over.

The Boy Scouts of America sent an email to FOX25, saying, in part: “While these allegations appear to be unrelated to scouting, we have removed this individual from the Boy Scouts of America. The safety of our youth members is of paramount importance."

The Italian Home for children is listed in the Catholic directory. In a statement to FOX25, the Archdiocese of Boston says the Italian House is not one of it's entities. Garabedian says his client also reported this allegation to the Boston Police Department. We called Boston police to see if there was an ongoing investigation or if the statute of limitations has run out, but we haven't heard back yet.