Bro. David J. Nickerson, B.G.S.

Summary of Case: Nickerson, who was known as "Brother Dave", confessed in 2007 to having sexually abused a 9- or 10-year-old third grader in the mid-1980s. His victim was one of the altar boys Nickerson "oversaw" at a Milwaukee parish. Another Brother Dave had been wrongfully convicted and jailed due to mistaken identity. He was released when Nickerson confessed. Nickerson was sentenced in January 2010 to five years in prison.


   

Start Stop Parish Town/Accusations State Position Notes
1964 1966       Nickerson joined the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1964. He is said to have left the order in 1966.
1966 mid-1980s          

mid-1980s

Milwaukee archbishop was Rembert George Weakland, O.S.B. (1977-2002)

  St. Vincent DePaul Parish and School

Milwaukee

• Nickerson confessed in 2007 to having sexually abused a 9- or 10- year-old St. Vincent third grader, who was an altar boy, in the mid-1980s.

WI In charge of altar boys.  
1988    

 

• The Milwaukee altar boy was also sexually abused by Nickerson in 1988 in Delaware. Nickerson had moved to Delaware, and the boy visited for about a week. Nickerson had been a "trusted family friend".

DE   Nickerson's victim was also abused by family members who confessed and went to prison. As an adult in 2007, the former altar boy was in prison himself for child sexual assault.
1991 2008        

Nickerson is said to have returned to the Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1991.

In 2007 Nickerson confessed to having sexually abused the young altar boy in the mid-1980s in Milwaukee. He had been living in California. In 2004 another Bro. Dave had been arrested, wrongly convicted, and sent to jail for Nickerson's crimes, due to mistaken identity. The other Bro. Dave was released after eight months when Nickerson confessed.
2008 2010

Wounded BrothersProject/RECON

Robertsville MO  

RECON is a facility near St. Louis for troubled clergy, including perpetrators of child sexual abuse.

In January 2010 Nickerson was sentenced to five years in prison.

 

Sources:

• Abusive Priests Often End up in St. Louis, By Tim Townsend , St. Louis Post-Dispatch [Missouri] , March 19, 2005
• Man Accused in Assault Bound over for Trial, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 1, 2008
• Clergy Abuse, By Crocker Stephenson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jul 9. 2008
• Catholic Educator Cleared in Sex Case, By Derrick Nunnally, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 17, 2007
• 5-Year Sentence Given in Molestation Case, By Crocker Stephenson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 20, 2010



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This assignment record collates Nickerson's career history with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on June 15, 2011.