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| Four New Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits Filed Against Former Teacher Here |
Dozens Have Now Accused Catholic Brother Who Has Since Left 4 More Sex Abuse Suits Name Pueblo Diocese Four more former students at a Catholic high school have filed suit in Pueblo County District Court alleging they were sexually abused by a teacher at least 35 years ago. The actions, filed this week, bring to 21 the number of suits that claim students at Roncalli High School were sexually assaulted by teacher William Mueller, a former member of the Marianist religious order. Most claim Mueller subdued them with ether under the pretense of a secret, scientific experiment. The latest suits name Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo and the Marianist Province of the United States. The plaintiffs are identified only as John Doe Nos. 14 through 17. Roncalli closed in 1971. Mueller, 67, voluntarily left the Marianist order in 1986 and now lives in San Antonio. He has denied sexual misconduct. The diocese and the order also have denied wrongdoing in the way they handled Mueller's case. More suits filed in Roncalli High sex case The suits, brought against the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo and the Marianist Province of the United States, accuse Brother William Mueller of subduing students with ether under the guise of secret, scientific experiments, then sexually assaulting them. To date, 21 suits containing similar allegations have been filed in Pueblo district court. The suits filed this week involve the last alleged local victims of Mueller known to the Miami law firm of Herman & Mermelstein, which has filed each of the suits, according to Adam Horowitz, a lawyer with the firm. Horowitz said each of the lawsuits against the diocese and the religious order, which staffed Roncalli until it closed in 1971, has been consolidated by the court for pre-trial purposes. “Hopefully we can get together with the church’s attorneys to explore resolution of these cases,” Horowitz said. Marianist spokeswoman Diane Guerra said leaders of the religious order were not aware of the suits filed this week. Each of the suits filed this week was filed by an anonymous plaintiff. John Doe No. 14, age 53, attended Roncalli during the first semester of his freshman year in 1967, and for his entire senior year during the 1970-71 school year. He alleges in the lawsuit that Mueller asked him to participate in an experiment in the school’s band room. When the boy arrived, Mueller allegedly snuck up on him, subdued him with ether and sexually abused him. John Doe No. 15, now 56, attended Roncalli between the fall of 1965 and the spring of 1968. He alleges in his lawsuit that Mueller abused him in similar fashion. John Doe No. 16, is 51 years old. He attended Roncalli for his freshman and sophomore years until the school closed in 1971. His suit alleges that he met Mueller at the brother’s residence hall, where Mueller placed a rag over his mouth that caused him to lose consciousness. When he awoke, he was alone and his shirt, belt and pants were undone, according to the civil complaint. John Doe No. 17, also 51, attended Roncalli during his freshman and sophomore years until the school closed in 1971. He alleges that he followed Mueller’s instructions by going to the brother’s office, where Mueller allegedly subdued him with ether and sexually abused him. In a phone conversation last year with Marianist Provincial Stephen Glodek, Mueller, 67, reportedly denied he had sexually abused students. Mueller faces similar allegations in Missouri and Texas. He voluntarily left the order in 1986 and resides in San Antonio. According to Marianist records, Mueller twice was sent to a New Mexico treatment center for troubled priests. The religious order has stated that its leaders were concerned about reports of Mueller experimenting with ether on students, but early allegations didn’t contain a sexual element. No trial date has been set for the civil suits filed in Pueblo. http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1150437600/25 For more information: David Clohessy 566 9790 cell, 645 5915 |