Fr. Aaron Joseph Cote

Order: OP
Ordained: 1986
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Archdiocese of Washington DC and MD

In 11/2005 an 18-year old male filed a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse as a minor by Cote in 2001-2002 when he was 14 and a parishioner at Mother Seton in Germantown, MD. The abuse occurred in both MD and DC. Transferred to RI, where he was suspended after the suit. The case settled in 8/2007 for $1.2M, paid by the Order. The Order knew in 1988 of allegations against Cote in OH. Cote also worked in Springfield MA. A Springfield woman filed suit 4/2008 claiming Cote sexually abused her sons when they were ages 2 and 5. Criminal charges were filed in 7/2008 in in the Germantown case. Cote was found guilty in 7/2009 and received 10 years probation in 11/2009. He died in 2012. Included on the Archdiocese of Washington DC’s  list 10/15/2018, the Columbus diocese’s list 3/1/2019, the Dominicans St. Joseph Province list in late 2018, and the Springfield MA diocese’s list 6/2/2021. Included in the3/4/2026 RI Attorney General’s Report.

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