See Names, More about 38 Lafayette-area Clergy Member's on Diocese's Official Sex Abuse List
Acadiana Advocate
David Broussard Age: Born in 1966 Position: Priest Served: St. Mary Magdalen in Abbeville; Our Lady of Mercy in Opelousas; St. Joseph, Iota and St. Michael, Egan; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Kaplan; St. Joseph, Evangeline and St. Jules, Petit Mamou; St. Bernard in Breaux Bridge. Ordained: 1993 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: July 2016 Removed from ministry: Removed in 2016; Pleaded guilty in 2018; Incarcerated. Details: While he was at St. Bernard in Breaux Bridge, a technician working on his computer found child porn and alerted police. He pleaded guilty to possession of child porn in October 2018 and sentenced to five years in jail. J. Richard Chachere Age: Born in 1940. Died in 2012. Position: Priest Served: Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles; St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville; St. Anne, Youngsville. Ordained: 1965 Estimated time of abuse: Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1978 Details: Unknown David Anderson Coupar Age: Born in 1952 Position: Priest Served: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Iberia; St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Abbeville; St. Leo the Great, Leonville; St. Anthony of Padua, Krotz Springs; Our Lady of Victory, Loureauville; Catholic High, New Iberia; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Leroy. Ordained: 1980 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1994 Details: Unknown Herbert de Launay Age: Born 1948 Position: Priest Served: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Kaplan; Our Lady Queen of All Saints, Ville Platte; Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Church Point; St. John the Baptist, Lyons Point; American Legion Hospital, Crowley; St. Ann, Mamou; St. Andrew, Plaisance; St. Peter, Carencro; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Iberia; St. Bernadette, Bayou Vista. Ordained: 1975 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Removed in 1999 Details: Unknown John deLeeuw Age: Born 1918 in The Netherlands. Died in 2015. Position: Priest Served: St. Martin de Tours, St. Martinville; St. Genevieve, Lafayette; St. Jules, Lafayette; Charity Hospital, Lafayette; St. Eugene, Grand Chenier; St. Leo the Great, Lafayette. Ordained: 1944 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Retired in 1986. Removed in 2011. Details: Joined Diocese of Lafayette in 1953. Michael DesJardins Age: Born in 1950 Position: Priest Served: St. John Cathedral, Lafayette; St. Landry, Opelousas; St. Mary, Port Barre; Sts. Peter and Paul, Scott; St. Martin de Porres, Scott; St. Bridget, Lawtell; St. Anthony of Padua, Eunice. Ordained: 1976 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1992 Details: Unknown John Anthony Engbers Age: Born in 1922. Died in 1989. Position: Priest Served: St. Peter, New Iberia; Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles; Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Arthur; St. Anthony of Padua, Eunice; St. Helena, Louisa; St. Peter the Apostle, Gueydan; St. John the Evangelist, Mermentau; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Leroy. Ordained: 1949 Estimated time of abuse: 1952, early 1970s Allegation received: 1985 Removed from ministry: Unknown Details: Accused in a lawsuit of molesting two young sisters in Lake Charles. Accused in separate lawsuit of abusing five sisters starting around 1957, continuing until they were adults. Accused in 1989 of sexually assaulting a girl under age 5 while priest at St. Peter the Apostle in Gueydan. Her lawsuit was settled with the diocese paying an undisclosed amount. Fled to his native Holland. Ronald Lane Fontenot Age: Born in 1946. Died in 2014. Position: Priest Served: St. Peter the Apostle, Gueydan; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Iberia; Our Lady of Mercy, Opelousas; Our Lady of Fatima, Lafayette; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baldwin. Ordained: 1975 Estimated time of abuse: 1970s and 1980s Allegation received: 1987 lawsuit Removed from ministry: Removed in 1984. Resigned in 1984. Details: Accused in court documents of abusing 13 boys. In 1986 five boys in Spokane, Washington, accused him of abuse and reported it to parents and police. He pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree statutory rape of a 15-year-old boy and four misdemeanors of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. Served one year in Spokane County Jail. The Advocate reported in a Feb. 8, 1986, story on the Gauthe lawsuit that Fontenot was accused of sharing victims with Gauthe. Also accused in lawsuit in 1983 of abusing boy while at Sacred Heart Church in Baldwin. In 1984, while at Fatima in Lafayette, he was accused of sexual molestation, leading to his suspension and psychological help. Lawsuit by Vermilion Parish parents in 1987 was settled for an undisclosed amount.
Gilbert John Gauthe Age: Born in 1945 Position: Priest Served: St. Michael the Archangel, Crowley; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Broussard; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Iberia; St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville; St. John, Henry. Ordained: 1971 Estimated time of abuse: 1970s and 1980s Allegation received: 1983 Removed from ministry: Removed in 1983. Resigned in 1983. Details: Convicted in 1985 of sexually abusing 11 boys; admitted abusing 37 or more children; served less than 10 years in prison. In 1997 pleaded no contest to abusing 3-year-old Texas boy; received 7 years probation. Jailed in Texas 2008-10 for violating sex offender registration law. Aldeo Fernand Gilbert Age: Born in 1917. Died in 2007. Position: Priest Served: St. Michael the Archangel, Crowley; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ville Platte; St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Abbeville. Ordained: 1943 Estimated time of abuse: 1950s and 1960s Allegation received: 1992 in a lawsuit; victims say they came forward in 1964 or 1965 Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1968. Details: Accused in a 1992 lawsuit of setting up vocation clubs for girls at Sacred Heart Church in Ville Platte from 1952-59 and at St. Theresa in Abbeville 1959-69 that were actually cults of women who preyed on young girls. Two lawsuits were dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired. One lawsuit was settled, according to KATC.
Michael Guidry Age: Born in 1943 Position: Pastor Served: St. John Cathedral, Lafayette; Our Lady of Fatima, Lafayette; Sts. Peter and Paul, Scott; St, Martin de Porres, Scott; St. Joseph, Evangeline and St. Jules, Petit Mamou; St. John, Mermentau and St. Margaret, Estherwood; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Church Point; St. Anthony of Padua, Krotz Springs; St. Joseph, Patterson; St. Jules, Franklin; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Baldwin; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Franklin; St. Peter, Morrow; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Iberia; St. Leo the Great, Lafayette. Ordained: 1971 Estimated time of abuse: 2015 Allegation received: 2018 Removed from ministry: Removed in 2018 Details: Convicted in 2019. Accused of and confessed to molesting a 16-year-old altar boy after giving him alcohol; faces criminal charge in St. Landry Parish; victim’s family filed lawsuit in August 2018. Lloyd Hebert Age: Born in 1928. Died in 2004. Position: Priest Served: St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles; St. Peter the Apostle, Gueydan; St. Peter, New Iberia; St. Mary of the Lake, Big Lake; Our Lady Queen of Angels, Opelousas. Ordained: 1957 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: 1980s Removed from ministry: Removed in 1985 Details: Described in 1988 deposition by Bishop Gerald Frey as a “child molester.” Suspended in 1980s after complaint received. Times of Acadiana reported in 1986 an attorney was set to depose Hebert after allegations by a young man. Before that could happen, the diocese stipulated to liability in open court. Michael Herpin Age: Born in 1941 Position: Pastor, monsignor, vicar Served: St. Raphael, Iowa; St. Landry, Opelousas; Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles; Our Lady Help of Christians, Jennings; St. Paul, Elton; St. Joseph, Elton; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Iberia; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Broussard; Our Lady of Mercy, Henderson; St. Joseph, Milton. Ordained: 1966 Estimated time of abuse: Early 1970s Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Removed in 2002 Details: Admitted to church officials in 2002 that he molested a minor 30 years prior. Was sent away for medical treatment in 2002. He was a monsignor and the diocese central region vicar at the time. Marshall Larriviere Age: Born in 1937. Died in 2014. Position: Priest Served: St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville; Studies for Deaf Chaplaincy; Chaplain in U.S. Armed Services. Ordained: 1963 Estimated time of abuse: 1968-69 Allegation received: 2003 Removed from ministry: Removed in 1994 Details: Accused in lawsuit of raping two young girls while at St. Mary Magdalene in Abbeville. Case settled in 2008. Robert Limoges Age: Born in 1930 Position: Pastor Served: Our Lady of Victory, Loreauville; St. Anthony’s, Eunice. Ordained: 1979 Estimated time of abuse: 1980 to 1982 Allegation received: 1983. Early 1990s Removed from ministry: Took leave in 1984. Removed in 1984. Details: Reported to diocese and police 1983 for sexually fondling a minor in Eunice. No charges because of plan of treatment. Accused in 1990s of sexual abuse of boys in Loreauville from 1980-82, but lawsuits dismissed because of statute of limitations expired. Keith Anthony Potier Age: Born in 1947. Died in 2009. Position: Priest Served: St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Abbeville; Our Lady of Holy Rosary, Kaplan; Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles; Our Lady of Victory, Loreauville. Ordained: 1973 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1981 Details: Unknown David Primeaux Age: Born in 1950. Died in 2012 (suicide). Position: Priest Served: Sts. Peter and Paul, Scott; Our Lady of Fatima, Lafayette; Immaculata Seminary, Lafayette; Chancery, Lafayette; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Broussard; Our Lady of Wisdom, Lafayette; St. Joseph, Milton. Ordained: 1975 Estimated time of abuse: 1970s-1980s Allegation received: A psychological report around 1985 revealed Primeaux admitted sexual contact boys. A 1991 lawsuit by a single victim was settled in 2000. Allegations became well known after his suicide in 2012. Removed from ministry: Removed in 1985. Resigned in 1985. Details: A psychological report around 1985 revealed Primeaux admitted sexual contact with five students at St. Joseph Benedictine Seminary where he was an instructor. He allegedly admitted to abusing boys while at Our Lady of Fatima in Lafayette around 1976. He also allegedly confessed to repeatedly abusing seven altar boys while serving at St. Joseph Church in Milton. A 1991 lawsuit by a single victim was settled in 2000 by the diocese for an undisclosed amount. He married, and by 2012 was a computer science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. The allegations became well known after his suicide in 2012. Valerie Pullman Age: Born in 1940. Died in 2017. Position: Priest Served: Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Arthur; St. Joseph, Elton; Our Lady Queen of Peace, Lafayette; Our Lady of the Assumption, Carencro; St. Martin de Porres, Scott; Lake Charles Diocese. Ordained: 1965 Estimated time of abuse: 1970s Allegation received: 2003 Removed from ministry: Removed in 1987. Resigned in 1987. Details: Pullman is accused of repeatedly abusing an altar boy over several years starting in 1972; civil lawsuit settled in 2007 or 2008. Harry Quick Age: Born in 1929. Died in 1994. Position: Priest Served: St. Henry, Lake Charles; Our Lady Help of Christians, Jennings; St. Joseph, Evangeline; St. Thomas More, Eunice; St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Duson; Charity Hospital, Lafayette. Ordained: 1962 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: 1988, Bishop Gerard Frey called Quick a child molester in deposition; allegations arose in 1977 while he was at St. Thomas More Church in Eunice. Removed from ministry: Removed in 1983. Resigned in 1983. Details: At least one lawsuit settled, according to KATC. Allegedly admitted molestation to Bishop Gerald Frey. Allegations arose in 1977 while he was at St. Thomas More Church in Eunice and he underwent counseling in Indiana, according to Frey’s deposition. Back in Louisiana at another Diocese of Lafayette church parish in 1980, he was accused by another boy of abuse. Richard Rieboldt Age: Born in 1945 Position: Head of diocesan marriage tribunal Served: St. John Cathedral, Lafayette; Our Lady of Fatima, Lafayette; St. Bernard, Breaux Bridge; St. Michael the Archangel, Crowley; St. Jules, Lafayette; St. John the Baptist, Lyons Point. Ordained: 1975 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1985. Removed in 1989. Details: Unknown
Robie Robichaux Age: Born in 1950 Position: Head of diocesan marriage tribunal Served: St. Peter, New Iberia; St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Abbeville; St. Genevieve, Lafayette; St. Peter, New Iberia; St. Joseph, Iota; St. Jules, Petit Mamou; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Broussard; St. Edmond, Lafayette; St. Patrick, Lafayette; St. Mary Mother of the Church, Lafayette; St. Leo the Great, Lafayette. Ordained: 1976 Estimated time of abuse: 1970s and 1980s Allegation received: One victim made allegations in 1994 and 2004; second victim came forward in 2018. Bishop Douglas Deshotel says he first learned of the previous allegations in September 2018 Removed from ministry: Removed in 2018 Details: The first victim was 16 or 17 years old at the time of the alleged abuse, and it’s unclear why her repeated allegations did not result in disciplinary actions. Robichaux is accused of “inappropriate sexual contact” with a second victim. Jody Simoneaux Age: Born in 1955 Position: Priest Served: St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette; St. Anthony of Padua, Eunice; St. Anne, Youngsville; St. Genevieve, Lafayette. Ordained: 1982 Estimated time of abuse: 1980s Allegation received: 2018 Removed from ministry: Removed in 2018 Details: Accused of “improper behavior with minors” while serving at St. Anthony and St. Anne and St. Edmund High School in Eunice more than 30 years ago. Gerard Smit Age: Born in 1924 Position: Priest and parochial vicar in Diocese of Lafayette (First affiliated with Diocese of Lafayette beginning in 1958 and Diocese of Lake Charles in 1980) Served: St. Joseph, Iota; St. Anne, Youngsville; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bosco (Mire); Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Chataignier; Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles; St. John Berchmans, Cankton; Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Arthur; St. Raphael, Iowa. Ordained: 1950 Diocese of Nijmejen, Holland Estimated time of abuse: 1965-70 Diocese of Lafayette; 1950s and 1960s Diocese of Lake Charles. Allegation received: 1982, 1986, 1996, 2002 (same victim in 1982 and 1996) Removed from ministry: Retired in 1986. Removed in 2002. Details: Complaint filed with Louisiana State Police 2015. In 1982 victim told Lafayette deputies about sexual abuse 1965-70 in Youngsville but was told it was beyond the statute of limitations. Smit received “treatment” after bishop received complaint in 1986 regarding sexual abuse of girls at Our Lady Queen of Heaven. Sentenced to a life of prayer and penance in 2013 and is residing in Pennsylvania. *Also on Diocese of Lake Charles list Jean Toussaint Age: Born in 1910. Died in 1977. Position: Priest Served: St. Julien Chapel, Chataignier; St. Joseph, Ville Platte and Little Flower in Pins Clairs; St. Mary, Port Barre; Holy Trinity, Washington. Ordained: 1934 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Unknown Details: Unknown Adrian Walter Van Hal Age: Born in 1912. Died in 1970. Position: Priest Served: St. Genevieve, Lafayette; Lake Arthur; Evangeline; Cameron (Creole?); St. John the Evangelist, Melville; Chaplain, U.S. Army; St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette; Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles; Our Lady of Mercy, Opelousas. Ordained: 1937 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Unknown Details: Unknown Cornelius Van Merrianboer Age: Born in 1898. Died in 1960. Position: Priest Served: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Creole; St. John the Evangelist, Mermentau. Ordained: 1924 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1933 Details: Unknown Rosaire Veilleux Age: Born in 1930. Died in 1986. Position: Unknown Served: St. Anne, Youngsville; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Church Point; St. Peter, Carencro; St. Genevieve, Lafayette; St. John Vianney, Bell City. Ordained: 1958 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1973 Details: Unknown Charles Zaunbrecher Age: Born in 1931. Died in 1996. Position: Monsignor, priest and vicar Served: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Kaplan; St. Anthony of Padua, Eunice; Our Lady of Fatima, Lafayette; St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville; St. Jules, Lafayette; St. Michael the Archangel, Crowley; St. Edward, Richard; St. Leo IV, Roberts Cove; St. Joseph, Iota; St. John the Baptist, Lyons Point; St. Joseph, Milton; Little Flower, Mobile, Alabama. Ordained: 1957 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Retired in 1995 Details: Zaunbrecher was monsignor and vicar of West Lafayette Deanery and a priest at St. Joseph in Milton when arrested in May 1986 and charged with obscenity for exposing himself to two police officers. Lester Breaux Age: Born in 1920. Died in 1996. Position: Unknown Served: St. Peter, Carencro Ordained: 1977 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1984 Details: Unknown Willis Broussard Age: Born in 1927 Position: Unknown Served: St. John the Evangelist, Mermentau Ordained: 1977 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Resigned in 1990 Details: Unknown Leonard J. Freyou Age: Born in 1926. Died in 2006. Position: Unknown Served: St. Nicholas, Lydia Ordained: 1977 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Unknown Details: Unknown Louis Hanemann Age: Born in 1948 Position: Unknown Served: St. Genevieve, Lafayette; Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina Ordained: 1983 Estimated time of abuse: Unknown Allegation received: Unknown Removed from ministry: Left in 1986. Removed in 2002. Details: Unknown
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