Fr. Wilson F. Smart
The Diocese knew of Smart’s attraction to boys by 1959. He received treatment in 1959 and 1969 and admitted to molesting more than 30 boys 1957-1978. A 1990 civil lawsuit alleged Smart sexually abused the plaintiff at age 12 in 1967, and that the abuse continued until 1975. It settled in 1993, possibly for $1.7M. Smart was named in at least three other suits which later settled. In 1993 the bishop admitted to removing two letters from a file which documented abuse. Smart was named as an abuser in an amended lawsuit in 10/2011. He died 9/10/2006. Included on the Helena diocese’s list posted to its website 4/29/2015 in compliance with the non-monetary terms of the 3/5/2015 bankruptcy settlement.
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