Florida is not known for being a very victim friendly state with regards to sexual abuse and assault laws. While there have been efforts to change legislation and help survivors of sexual abuse get justice against their abusers in the courts, the state still has a long way to go to help survivors get the justice they deserve. However, some of the state’s existing laws do enable lawyers handling sexual abuse claims in Florida to file cases against sexual predators, including clergy members, and the Catholic church.
Florida Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse & Assault
Florida has made progress towards helping survivors of sexual abuse get justice by changing some of its statute of limitations (SOLs) laws for child sexual abuse for both criminal and civil claims. While the changes the state has made are a step in the right direction, a greater effort needs to be made to get more of the existing SOLs eliminated as well as opening up a revival window for claims that are currently time-barred.
Criminal Statute of Limitations Laws for Florida
In 2020, Florida eliminated the criminal SOL for felony sexual battery of victims under the age of 18. Child USA, who has evaluated every state based on their criminal statute of limitations laws, gave Florida a Criminal SOL letter grade of C, on the traditional A-F scale, where A is the best. A letter grade of C is defined as a criminal SOL eliminated for some/all felonies only.
Civil Statute of Limitations Laws for Florida
In 2010, Florida eliminated the civil SOL for sexual battery offenses against victims under 16 years old. This new law also applied to non-expired claims that arose prior to the law being signed in July 2010. Unfortunately, a proposal to eliminate the civil SOL for sexual offenses against minors and adults as well as open a 1-year revival window did not pass in the Florida legislature.
Child USA, who has also evaluated every state based on their civil statute of limitations laws, gave Florida a Civil SOL Age Cap letter grade of B, on the traditional A-F scale, where A is the best. A letter grade of B is defined as no age cap for some claims.
If you or someone you love was sexually abused or assaulted in Florida, contact us now. Due to Florida’s elimination of some civil statute dates for childhood sexual abuse, those sexually abused as a minor may still have a claim against their abuser, depending upon how long ago the abuse occurred. Even if the abuser is deceased, you may still have a claim against the organization responsible. Don’t wait to file your claim!
  April 2004 – The Diocese of St. Petersburg paid $1.075 million to settle claims brought by a dozen men who said they were molested by priest Robert Schaeufele beginning in the mid-1970s. The boys were between the ages of 9-14 when the abuse occurred. Schaeufele was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2003 after he pleaded guilty to charges he sexually abused three other boys.
September 2004 – The Archdiocese of Miami agreed to pay a total of $3.4 million to settle almost two dozen lawsuits brought by former altar boys and other youths who accused Catholic priests of sexually abusing them decades ago. The priests named as the alleged abusers in these settlements include: Rev. Ernesto Garcia-Rubio, Rev. Alvaro Guichard, Rev. Ricardo Castellanos, Rev. Joseph Cinesi, Rev. Joseph Huck.
September 2005 – The Dioceses of Orlando and St. Augustine combined to pay $1.5 million to settle sexual abuse claims brought by three former altar boys who alleged they were molested by two priests “countless times.” The boys’ ages ranged from 11-15 years old during the abuse which occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The two priests named as the abusers were Rev. Vernon F. Uhran and Rev. Hubert Reason.
July 2007 – The Archdiocese of Miami reached a confidential settlement with a man who claimed Rev. Anthony Mercieca fondled and performed oral sex on him when he was an altar boy about 30 years ago. The man was 12-13 years old when the abuse occurred.
January 2013 – The Archdiocese of Miami settled a claim with a former altar boy who said Rev. Rafael Escala sexually abused him as a teenager. Terms of the settlement were undisclosed. The abuse occurred in the late 1980s after Escala caught the boy stealing $60 from the collection. Escala used the threat of notifying the police or the boy’s parents to keep him quiet about the abuse.
August 2014 – The Diocese of Venice agreed to a six-figure settlement with a man who claimed he was sexually abused by Rev. Jean Ronald Joseph when he was just sixteen-years-old. The agreement occurred only after the victim’s attorney received confidential documents from a source that showed the church knew Joseph had abused the boy. The victim’s attorney said that the church should have provided this information a year earlier when it concluded its investigation of Joseph.
The settlements listed above are offered for educational purposes only and do not guarantee any future outcome or settlement. Each legal situation is different, and past performance does not guarantee future results. We do not maintain that is a full list of all settlements in the state of Florida but merely a grouping of those we choose to share on our website. Please contact us if you would like additional settlements included or if you notice any inaccuracies on our site. We strive to provide our viewers the most up to date and accurate information as possible.
Florida Clergy Credibly Accused Released by Catholic Dioceses
Catholic Dioceses in Florida have released the names of priests and clergy members who they deemed to be ‘credibly accused’ of sexual abuse of a child.
The lists below will be updated as litigation or investigations are concluded so that new names of credibly accused priests in Florida can be added.
Use the links below to navigate directly to a particular diocese’s clergy list.
As of June 2021, the Diocese of Venice has not published a clergy credibly accused
Diocese of St. Augustine Credibly Accused Priest List
wdt_ID
Last Name
First Name
Clergy Status
Diocese/Order
Year(s) of Alleged Incident(s)
1
Bowles
Richard
Deceased
Diocese of St. Augustine
1969, 1971
2
Brault
Gilles J.R.
Deceased
Diocese of St. Augustine
1977
3
Byrne
John
Deceased
Society of St. Joseph (SSJ)
1976-1978
4
Carr
Cornelius, "Neil"
Deceased
Society of Jesus (SJ)
1991
5
Dux, Jr.
John H.
Unknown
Diocese of St. Augustine
1976
6
Griffin
Augustus, "Gus"
Deceased
CSSp
1969
7
Litts
Howard C.
Deceased
Diocese of St. Augustine
1967-1968
8
Malone
William J.
Deceased
CSSp
1981-1983
9
McNamara
Thomas V.
Deceased
Diocese of St. Augustine
1964-1965
10
McCreanor
David
Unknown
Diocese of St. Augustine
1973-1975
Diocese of Orlando Credibly Accused Priest List
wdt_ID
Last Name
First Name
Year of Ordination/ Incardination
Clergy Status
Assignments
1
Authenrieth
William
1962
Removed from ministry in 1985 and sent to the House of Affirmation in Massachusetts for treatment
Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, New York: 1962-1973; All Souls, Sanford; St. Mary's, Rockledge
2
Bendixen
Arthur (Art)
1976
Resigned due to health reasons in 1993
St. Margaret Mary in Winter Park: 1976-1979; Good Shepherd, Orange County: 1980-1982; St. Mary Magdalen, Altamonte Springs: 1982-1984; Chancellor of the Diocese of Orlando : 1984-1991; Rector of seminary at St. Vincent de Paul, Boynton Beach: 1991-1993
3
Coyle
James
1983
Orlando Bishop stated in 1997 he would never be returned to diocesan duties
St. Peter's, DeLand: 1980s
4
Duffy
Hugh
Unknown
Unknown
Orlando Diocese
5
Emerson
Richard
1978
Laicized in 2006
Head administrator of Schererville's Hoosier Boys' Town; Diocese of Gary liaison for the Boy Scouts; Michigan City's Notre Dame, IN; St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Orlando
6
Honc
Kathleen Francis
Unknown
Died 2016
Melbourne Central Catholic High School, Seminole: 1962-1971
7
Ingram
James
Unknown
Unknown
Orlando Diocese
8
Johnson
Ronald
Unknown
Unknown
Orlando Diocese
9
McCullen
John
1944
Placed on administrative leave and faculties suspended in 2003. Removed from public ministry in 2004 by the Archdiocese of Miami. Died 2013
Saint Rose Parish, Lima, OH: 1945-1947; Saint Ann Parish, Fremont, OH: 1947-1961; St. Ambrose Church, Deerfield Beach
St. Charles Church, Orlando; Winter Haven (Parish undisclosed); St. Thomas More, Boynton Beach; Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Lantana
13
Pagni, III
Thomas James
1977
Forced out of priesthood by Orlando diocese. Sentenced to prison in 1996 and released in 2000
Lake County (Parish undisclosed); Crosswinds Youth Services, Merritt Island; Youth & Family Counselor, Brevard County
14
Reason
Hubert
1957
Died 1984
St. Patrick, Largo; St. Ignatius of Antioch, Tarpon Springs; St. Theresa, Spring Hill; St. Mary Our Lady of Grace, St. Petersburg
15
Redmond
Lawrence (Larry)
1964
Placed on leave and later retired. Died in 2006
St. Augustine, Ormond Beach; Saint Peter, Goldenrod; Paul Catholic Church, Goldenrod; Ocala (parish undisclosed): 1976-1987
16
Salazar
Oscar
Unknown
Removed from assignment and sent to St. Luke's for treatment
Our Lady of the Lakes Church, Deltona
17
Sykes
Thomas
1964
Removed from Orlando Diocese in 1976. Laicized and later married. Died in 2011
Bishop Moore High School, Orlando: 1970s; St. John Vianney Parish, St Pete Beach: 1970s
18
Tran
Joseph
Unknown
Unknown
Orlando Diocese
19
Uhran
Vernon
1969
Removed from duties in 1992
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Altamonte Springs: 1969-1973 Bishop Moore High School, Orlando: 1969-1973; Church of the Resurrection, Lakeland: 1973-1976; Santa Fe High School, Lakeland: 1973-1977; St. Theresa Catholic Church, Belleview : 1976-1981; Dominican Republic (Parish undisclosed); Melbourne Central Catholic, Melbourne FL; Diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska
20
Uniowski
Peter
1975
Suspended, then permanently removed from parish assignment in 2003
Daytona Beach (Parish undisclosed); Fort Pierce (Parish undisclosed); Titusville (Parish undisclosed); Ormond Beach (Parish undisclosed); St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Lakeland
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Credibly Accused Priest List
wdt_ID
Last Name
First Name
Clergy Status
Diocese/Order
Assignments
1
Bluett
James
Permanently removed from
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. Michael, Pensacola: 1970-1972; St. Peter, Mary Esther: 1975-1983
2
Halstead
Philip
Deceased: 2002
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
University of West Florida, Pensacola: 1962-1964; Pensacola Catholic High School: 1984-1986; St. Sylvester, Gulf Breeze: 1987-1988; Holy Name of Jesus, Niceville: 1988; Blessed Trinity, Bonifay 1988-1995; St. Joseph the Worker, Chipley: 1989-1995
3
Hevia
Todd
Permanently removed from ministry: 1997
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Pensacola: 1977-1981; St. Rose of Lima, Milton: 1982-1997
4
Jones
Eddie
Permanently removed from ministry: 2018
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Blessed Sacrament, Tallahassee: 2003-2007; Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Tallahassee: 2007-2010; Elizabeth Ann Seton, Crawfordville and St. Stephen Protomartyr, Woodville: 2010-2018; Sacred Heart, Lanark: 2011-2018
5
Naslund
Sebastian
Permanently removed from ministry: 1997
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Tyndal Air Force Base, Panama City: 1977-1979; Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach: 1982-1983; Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More and FAMU, Tallahassee: 1990; St. Eugene, Tallahassee: 1997
6
Pathe
Timothy
Retired from Ministry-1975. Died-1977.
Archdiocese of Mobile: 1962-1967; Diocese of St. Augustine: 1967-1974; Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee: 1975-1977
St. John the Evangelist, Pensacola: 1962-1967; Sacred Heart Hospital: 1968-1974; Retired in Residence, Nativity, Pensacola: 1975-1977
7
Reczek
Louis
Permanently removed from ministry by LaSalette. Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas Missionaries-1974. Deceased-1986.
LaSalette Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas Missionaries
Holy Cross, Chattahoochee; St. Ann, Marianna: 1971-1972
8
Terminello
Arthur
Deceased: 1962.
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. Stephen, Pensacola: 1947-1953; St. Anne, Pensacola: 1953-1962.
9
Wever
Michael
Withdrawn from ministry: 1983.
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Sacred Heart Cathedral: 1978-1981. Co-Cathedral, Tallahassee: 1981. St. Stephen the Protomartyr Mission, Woodville: 1982. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Crawfordville: 1982.
10
Bhaskar
Godugunuru Vijay
Permanently removed from ministry: 2006
Diocese of Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh in India
Blessed Trinity, Bonifay: 2006
11
Boucher
Lawrence
Deceased: 1972
Edmunite Religious Community
St. Patrick, Apalachicola and Holy Family, Port St. Joe: 1959-1968
12
Bowles
Richard
Permanently removed from ministry: 2003, Deceased: 2013
Diocese of St. Augustine: 1961-1969, 1975-1976, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee: 1976-2013
Sacred Heart, Pensacola: 1969-1972, St. Stephen, Pensacola: 1972, St. Anne, Pensacola: 1972-1975, St. Michael, Pensacola: 1976-2013, Port of Pensacola: 1976-1980
13
Castillo
Richard
Permanently removed from ministry: 1997
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. John the Evangelist, Pensacola: 1983-1986, Pensacola Catholic High School: 1983-1986, Youth Activities Office at the Diocese: 1983-1987, Good Shepherd, Tallahassee: 1986-1989,
14
Cherup
Michael
Permanently removed from ministry: 2013
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Blessed Sacrament, Tallahassee: 1981-1985, Trinity Catholic School, Tallahassee: 1981-1985, Youth Activities Office at the Diocese: 1981-2005, Our Lady Queen of the Rosary, Bayou George and Our Lady Queen of Peace, Fountain: 1986-1989, Christ Our Redeemer, Niceville: 1989-1993, Sacred Heart Cathedral: 1993-1999, St. Mary, Fort Walton Beach: 1999-2013
15
Crandall
Thomas
Permanently removed from ministry: 2002
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. Dominic, Panama City: 1981-1983, St. Paul, Pensacola: 1983-1985, Pensacola Catholic High School: 1983-1985, St. Joseph, Port St. Joe: 1986-1998, St. Rose of Lima, Milton: 1998-2002
16
Curry
Samuel
Deceased: 1991
Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. Paul, Pensacola: 1986, St. Francis Blountstown: 1987, St. Joseph, Chipley: 1988
17
Franklin
Jonathan
Deceased: 1986
St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama/Benedictine Religious Community
St. Anne, Pensacola: 1985
18
Jungquist
Edward
Edward Jungquist was included in the Pennsylvania Attorney General Report. Permanently removed from ministry by the Diocese of Erie: 1990
Diocese of Erie Pennsylvania, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Nativity, Pensacola: 1989-1990
19
McCreanor
David
Permanently removed from ministry: 1997
Diocese of St. Augustine, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. Mary, Ft. Walton Beach: 1975-1976, St. John, Pensacola: 1976-1977, Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, Tallahassee: 1977-1979, Good Shepherd, Tallahassee: 1979-1997, St. Louis, Tallahassee: 1979-1997
Diocese of St. Petersburg Credibly Accused Priest List
wdt_ID
Last Name
First Name
Year of Ordination/ Incardination
Clergy Status
Assignments
1
Allen
Richard J.
1970
Resigned & privileges suspended in 2002
St. Matthew Parish, Largo; Epiphany Parish, Venice: 1978-1979
2
Balthazar
Norman
1963
Retired
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Zephyrhills; St. Laurence, Good Shepherd; Christ the King, Tampa ; Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Inverness; Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Pinellas
3
D'Angelo
Rocco
1956
Died 2005
St. Mark's Church in Boynton Beach: 1960s; Perrine, Archdiocese of Miami; Hollywood, Archdiocese of Miami; Served as diocesan chancellor in St. Petersburg
4
Lau
William
1979
Resigned, Removed from ministry
Blessed Trinity Church, St. Petersburg
5
Reason
Hubert
1957
Died 1984
St. Patrick, Largo; St. Ignatius of Antioch, Tarpon Springs ; St. Theresa, Spring Hill ; St. Mary Our Lady of Grace, St. Petersburg
6
Rhodes
Michael
1984
Left ministry in 1993
St. Ignatius, Tarpon Springs ; St. Catherine, Largo ; St. Vincent de Paul, Holiday; Holy Family, St. Petersburg; St. Cecelia's Church, Clearwater ; Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg
7
Russo
James E.
1970
Laicized by the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL on 9/9/2016
St. Bartholomew, Elmhurst; St. Thomas the Apostle, Woodhaven; St. Virgilius, Broad Channel; Holy Family, Flatlands; Diocese of St. Petersburg
8
Schaeufele
Robert
1975
Convicted on criminal charges but released from prison on 2/13/2015 after only serving 12 years.
St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Hudson; Epiphany Parish, Venice: 1978-1980
9
Symons
Joseph Keith
1958
Resigned after admitting to sexual abuse of minors.
Sacred Heart Parish in Pinellas Park, St. Paul Parish in Leesburg and St. Joseph Parish in Bradenton: 1958-1968; Resided at St. Mary, Our Lady of Grace Parish in St. Petersburg: 1971-1981; Ordained bishop in the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. And served as pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Largo.: 1981; Transferred by Pope John Paul II to bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee diocese.: 1983; Transferred to Palm Beach diocese: 1990; Resigned after admitting sexual abuse of boys: 1998
Click to view our larger list of accused priests. Here you can search by accused clergy first and last name, Parish/Diocese, city and state, and even by the years of their assignments.