Former Priest Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Boys Granted Parole

By Andy Hershberger
WMUR
July 6, 2017

http://www.wmur.com/article/former-priest-convicted-of-sexually-assaulting-boys-granted-parole/10267853

A former Farmington priest who was convicted of sexually assaulting two altar boys was granted parole Thursday.

Roger Fortier was sentenced in 1998 to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting the boys. He had 11 years left on his sentence, but the parole board granted his release, in part, because he has terminal cancer.

A doctor told the board that Fortier may have six months to live, but she said that is only an estimate. The board determined that his condition is incurable and that the cost of his continued care at the prison would be high.

Board members expressed concern for public safety and ordered that Fortier live alone with his sister, be under house arrest and wear an electronic monitoring device. They said the only time he would be able to leave his sister's house would be for visits to the doctor.

Fortier told the parole board that he is sorry for what he did.

"I have no excuse for what I did, but I do feel bad. Very bad," Fortier said. "I've lived with this for now almost 20 years, and my freedom has been taken away, but I lost other things, too -- the church, which is very difficult -- so I've been punished on two ends."

Another condition of Fortier's release is that he have no contact with any children.

Prison officials said a parole officer will have to review Fortier's living conditions before he can be released from prison. They said that process could take up to 60 days.