Victim recounts rape at Lonfit River

By Mindy Aguon
Guam Daily Post
May 17, 2017

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/victim-recounts-rape-at-lonfit-river/article_f65bb9cc-3acc-11e7-8b87-af5d5ae61441.html

LONFIT RIVER: This section of the Lonfit River is accessible only through private property on a residence on Dero Road, the access road to LeoPalace Resort. Photo by Norman M. Taruc

"I never told anybody back then. Who was gonna believe me? Back then it was very strict." – B.J., describing abuse by former Guam priest Louis Brouillard

As he walked with his cane into the grassy area leading to Lonfit River, there was trepidation in his step. This was the first time he'd been back in more than 40 years.

The hot sun beating down on him caused beads of sweat to run down his forehead as he became weak, having flashbacks of a traumatic trip to this river in the early 1970s.

"He told me it was time to become a man," the 57-year-old man said as his voice faded.

B.J., using initials to protect his identity, was only 12 years old when he was brought to Lonfit River by then-Father Louis Brouillard.

"He told me he was going to teach me survival skills for the military," B.J. told The Guam Daily Post.

At 12, B.J. loved to play baseball and would often visit a nearby store in Chalan Pago to play pinball to pass the time. Occasionally he would join other boys in the village for visits to Lonfit River for a swim, and thought it unusual the priest would instruct the boys to swim naked and touch their private parts.

Details of repeated rape, abuse

A civil complaint, filed by B.J. through his attorney David Lujan against the Archdiocese of Agana and the Boy Scouts of America on Wednesday, details allegations of an afternoon of repeated rape and sexual abuse by Brouillard.

One day in the early '70s, the boy was walking to the store by himself when Brouillard pulled up in his Volkswagen and asked B.J. to go with him to the river.

The priest allegedly said he had a survivor kit and wanted to show B.J. some survivor skills to help him when he joins the military. The boy was instructed to remove his clothes and Brouillard allegedly tied the boy's hands and feet to the trees.

"He told me it needed to be more realistic," B.J. said. "I was the only one out there."

Brouillard said, "Don't worry, I'm going to teach you how to get out of this and escape if you ever get tied up," court documents state.

The priest and Scoutmaster left the boy tied up and went for a swim. When he returned Brouillard allegedly began to fondle the boy and sexually abused him several times. The priest then forced the boy to perform oral sex on him saying he was "blessing him" and that it was B.J.'s "covenant into manhood."

The lawsuit states Brouillard allegedly raped the boy repeatedly despite his cries, "Stop, I think I'm dying."

After he was done, Brouillard untied B.J. and told him that what just happened is similar to confession – it was to remain between B.J., Brouillard and God, the complaint states.

The priest offered to take the boy to eat but B.J. wanted to go home. Brouillard dropped him off and gave the boy $3 and told B.J. not to hesitate to ask the priest for anything whether it was money, clothes or food.

'I can remember everything'

"I never told anybody back then. Who was gonna believe me? Back then it was very strict," B.J. said.

He said he went home that day and showered and went to sleep "feeling dirty." The next morning, he said he went to the jungle and stayed there for a few days to "heal."

"For three days I was spitting up blood," B.J said.

The man became nauseated when thinking about Brouillard taking his innocence.

"I can remember everything," he said.

B.J. held the secret for 45 years until he heard about other victims coming forward mentioning sexual abuse by Brouillard at Lonfit.

"I realized I wasn't the only one. That's what made me come out," B.J. said.

The civil complaint accuses the Archdiocese and Boy Scouts of America of being aware of the sexual abuse committed by Brouillard and "deliberately" remaining quiet and withholding the information.

The lawsuit states that Brouillard, by virtue of his unique authority and position as a Roman Catholic priest and Scoutmaster, was able to identify vulnerable victims and their families. He used his position to perform sexual abuse and manipulated his authority to procure compliance with his sexual demands from victims.

Attorney Lujan and his client are seeking a minimum of $10 million in damages.

"I want this out so our children don't have to experience this and to protect our children because I was a child once," B.J. said.