Fr. Roger Armand Fortier

Fortier had admitted by 1984 to the chancellor that he watched pornographic films and abused minor boys after plying them with alcohol. In 10/1997 he was arrested for sexually abusing two boys, ages 14-15, at his parish rectory. The abuse began for one in 1994 and went on for 18 months. The other boy was abused from 5/1997  until Fortier’s arrest. Fortier was also charged with possession of child pornography. He was convicted in 7/1998 and sentenced to 30-60 years in prison for the sexual abuse of the boys. He pleaded guilty in 11/1998 to the attempted abuse of a third boy and received a concurrent sentence of 5-10 years. Other victims came forward in 2002-2003. Fortier was laicized in 2005. On 7/6/2016 he was granted parole, the parole board citing his terminal cancer. He was told to live with his sister on house arrest. Included on the Diocese’s list 7/31/2019. The list in 5/2024 shows Fortier as deceased.