Fr. Arthur J. Perrault

Ordained: 1964
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Santa Fe NM

Ordained for the Archdiocese of Hartford. Sent to NM for treatment in 1966 and Canada in 1992. Air National Guard chaplain. Allegedly abused at least 10 children, boys and girls; some took their own lives. Fled the U.S. in 1992. Multiple lawsuits in 1992 and 1994. One settled in 11/1993 for $600K. Four settled in 1995. Named in at least one suit filed in 8/2014. A man who filed suit in 8/2014 against the Santa Fe Archdiocese said Perrault abused him dozens of times beginning in 1991, when he was an altar boy, age 10, in Albuquerque. Perrault was found in 4/2016 working in Morocco, at American Language Center in Tangier; he had been living there off and on for 30 years. Resigned in 5/2016, the school notified police. A suit was filed 8/4/2016 claiming abuse of a NM boy 1975-1977. Another suit was filed in 12/2016. One plaintiff said there were 38 victims. Judgment of $16M in 2/2017. Included on the Santa Fe list 9/12/2017. Arrested by the FBI in 9/2018, returned to NM. Pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of an 11-year-old boy while chaplain at Kirtland AF Base 1991-1992. New suit in 11/2018. Included on the Archdiocese of Hartford’s list 1/22/2019. Found guilty 4/10/2019. Sentenced in 9/2019 to 30 years in prison.

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