Judge Recuses Self in 2 Clergy Sex Abuse Cases
By Haidee V Eugenio
Superior Court Judge Vernon P. Perez recused himself this week from hearing two new clergy sex abuse cases, filed in local court March 7 and March 9. Perez’s recusals in the cases filed by former altar boys Anthony C. Flores and Michael Chargualaf marked the 85th and 86th disqualification memos by local judges assigned to hear childhood sexual abuse lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Agana and Catholic priests since November. Perez said his “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” He cited his fairly close relationship with the Archdiocese of Agana’s leadership, his active involvement in his parish in Ordot, and acquaintance with other former altar boys who filed similar lawsuits, including those against Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron. A review of all disqualification memos filed between Nov. 10, 2016, and March 16, 2017, shows all of Guam’s eight trial court judges have recused themselves from hearing anywhere between two and 14 clergy abuse cases. Perez filed 14 disqualification memos, the latest one involving Flores and Chargualaf's lawsuits. Flores, now 55, said former island priest Louis Brouillard sexually abused him in the 1970s during church activities and Boy Scouts activities. Flores was the first on Guam to name the Boy Scouts of America as a defendant, because Brouillard also was a scoutmaster while serving as a priest. Chargualaf also accused Brouillard of sexually abusing him in the 1970s. Brouillard publicly admitted to sexually abusing more than 20 boys while on Guam, his home from 1948 to 1981. Attorney Kevin Fowler, one of the counsels for Flores, said he has no plan to move Flores’ case to federal court. Recusal notice Perez, in his two-page March 13 and 16 disqualification memos, said Apuron is the regional leader of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, in which he, Perez, is a member. He said he intends to continue to be a member of the order and anticipates continued strong relationships with the archdiocese's leadership. The judge said for several years through 2008, he also served on the board of directors of the Catholic Social Services with Apuron, who was chairman. He said he's also acquainted with other individuals who filed cases similar to Flores, including former altar boys Roland Sondia, Roy Quintanilla and Walter Denton, who alleged Apuron sexually abused them in the 1970s. Perez said Denton is his former classmate and friend. Denton, in his lawsuit, accused Apuron of raping him in Agat in the 1970s. Pope Francis suspended Apuron in June 2016 after he was publicly accused of abusing altar boys. Apuron is also undergoing a Vatican canonical penal trial. Sondia was Perez’s wife’s former co-worker and acquaintance, the judge said. Perez also said Quintanilla is the sibling of his close work associate and a friend of his wife, too. Judge Perez said Ernee Perez, one of the named contact persons for an advertisement reaching out to priest abuse victims, is married to the judge’s second cousin, Greg Perez, former president and still a member of the Concerned Catholics of Guam, which has been calling for Apuron to be defrocked and removed as Guam archbishop. The judge said he has close relationships with Greg and Ernee Perez. The judge said Dee Peredo, also a contact person for the clergy abuse victim advertisements, is married to the judge’s first cousin. The judge said he and Peredo enjoy a close familial relationship. Thus far, 29 former Guam altar boys and former Catholic school student have filed clergy sex abuse lawsuits, most in the U.S. District Court of Guam by plaintiffs represented by attorney David Lujan. Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.