FLORIDA
ABC 7
By Jim Spiewak, NBC2 Investigator
LEE COUNTY, FL –
The Diocese of Venice is backing away from claims about knowing nothing about a second child assaulted by Robert Little years before his conviction.
We found out the second child was the then 10-year-old nephew of Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott. We broke the story on Tuesday — a civil lawsuit was filed against the diocese by the family of the little boy who was molested.
The family claims the second child’s alleged assault by Robert Little was reported to the diocese, but the church did nothing about it. Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott says he personally spoke to the principal and pastor at St. Francis Xavier church in 2011, after his sister said Little assaulted her son.
The clarification statement from the Diocese of Venice given Wednesday acknowledged for the first time that a couple reported their son felt “uncomfortable” in the presence of Little.
Sheriff Scott says he also spoke to the leaders at St. Francis Xavier Church in 2011 over the alleged assault of his then 10-year-old nephew.
“The diocese, specifically St. Francis, was personally made and professional made aware by me and by the parents,” said Sheriff Scott.
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