WARWICK (RI)
Herman Law [Rhode Island]
August 4, 2026
By Herman Law
Bishop Hendricken High School, an all-male Catholic prep school in Warwick, Rhode Island, has faced a string of publicly documented sexual misconduct allegations involving school leadership dating back to 1986. The accused include a principal, a vice principal, and a priest credibly accused by the Diocese of Providence, raising questions about oversight at the school across four decades.
1986: The Principal Is Arrested
On January 1, 1986, Brother John M. Walderman, then the school’s 40-year-old principal, was arrested on morals charges after allegedly soliciting a 17-year-old boy for sex, reportedly offering to pay him. He was released on his own personal recognizance and did not return to the school. Published reports indicate the charge was later dropped.
2004: A Vice Principal Is Arrested for Soliciting a Minor Online
In December 2004, Vice Principal Timothy Sheldon was arrested after allegedly holding a sexually explicit online conversation with an adult volunteer posing as a 14-year-old boy, whom Sheldon believed to be an actual minor. He pleaded no contest in 2005 to indecent solicitation of a child, was sentenced to five years of probation, surrendered his teaching certificate, and was barred from working with children.
2026: A Lawsuit Alleges Abuse by a Priest at the School
Father Joseph Rocha, who died in 2009, is on the Diocese’s own list of credibly accused clergy. Reporting on the Attorney General’s 2026 investigation found that Rocha’s 1977–1982 assignment to Hendricken was missing from the Diocese’s own personnel record for Rocha, even though the school is where one of the abuse allegations against him is understood to have occurred. On July 1, 2026, the first day of Rhode Island’s new revival window, a lawsuit was filed alleging Rocha abused a student throughout his freshman year at the school.
What This Means for Survivors
Taken together, these three cases span 40 years and involve two different administrations, raising the same questions each time: what school and Diocesan officials knew, and how they responded. Rhode Island’s new civil revival window, open through June 30, 2028, allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file claims that were previously barred by the statute of limitations, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. The Rocha lawsuit is among the first filed under the new law.
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse or misconduct connected to Bishop Hendricken High School or any other institution, whether by a priest, administrator, or staff member, you may now have legal options.
About Herman Law
Since its founding in 1997, Herman Law has exclusively represented victims of sexual abuse and has won over one billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for survivors. Herman Law’s experienced team is committed to pursuing justice, holding institutions accountable, and helping survivors heal by giving them a voice through civil litigation. The firm’s practice areas include sexual abuse within religious institutions, foster care systems, schools, healthcare facilities, camps, daycare centers, and other organizations. Herman Law has represented thousands of survivors, securing significant verdicts and settlements to support their journey toward justice and healing.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The allegations described in this post are drawn from official reports, court records, and news coverage and do not represent a finding of guilt. Herman Law does not represent any survivors of alleged sexual abuse referenced in this post.
Sources
Associated Press. (1986, January 2). Boys school principal arrested on sex charge. Los Angeles Times. Archived at https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1986_01_02_AP_BoysSchool_John_Walderman_1.htm
The Boston Globe. (2026, July 1). Dozens of sexual abuse lawsuits filed against the Catholic Diocese of Providence under new law allowing expired claims. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/01/metro/ri-clergy-sex-abuse-lawsuits/
Cowperthwaite, W., & Gregg, K. (2026, April 7). RI list of priests credibly accused of abusing children, updated in 2026. The Providence Journal. Republished at https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2026/04/heres-the-full-updated-list-of-credibly-accused-priests-in-ri/
TurnTo10. (2004, December 17). Vice principal charged with indecent solicitation of minor.
TurnTo10. (2005, February 10). Former principal sentenced for soliciting minor on internet.