Priest Admits 1970s Sexual Assault of Baltimore Boy
An 81-year-old Norwich priest received a suspended prison term and five years’ probation after pleading guilty Nov. 4 in Baltimore Circuit Court.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that Father Laurence LaPointe, 81, pleaded guilty on Nov. 4 to sexually abusing a boy in Baltimore in the mid-1970s.
In Baltimore City Circuit Court, LaPointe admitted a fourth-degree sex offense and common-law assault. Judge Charles Dorsey III sentenced him to three years in prison, which the judge immediately suspended, and to five years of supervised probation. Under the probation terms, LaPointe must have no direct contact with minors under 18 and may not volunteer or work in any educational setting involving individuals under 18.
Victim’s statement and prosecutor’s response
The victim delivered an impact statement in court. With the guilty plea, he said, the “heavy burden” of the priest’s abuse “passes from me to [LaPointe].” He added, “I hope he will find the courage to acknowledge any other misconduct, voluntarily and fully, without requiring other victims to endure years of investigation, the prospect of a trial, and the emotional burden of having to prove what happened to them.”
Brown said, “Those who were sexually assaulted as children continue to carry the burden of that trauma long after they reach adulthood. No matter how much time passes, we will help lift that weight off survivors’ shoulders and hold accountable anyone who abuses a position of trust to inflict such devastating harm on our children.”
Ministry status in Connecticut
LaPointe is a priest of the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut. The diocese announced in March that he was placed on ministry leave when the allegations surfaced while he was serving as pastor of Corpus Christi Parish. The diocese did not immediately comment on his status after the plea and sentencing.
The case concerns conduct decades past, yet the civil and criminal processes continue to seek accountability for survivors. The Church’s teaching insists that the protection of minors and the pursuit of justice for victims are non-negotiable duties, and that those who abuse a sacred trust must face the consequences of their acts under both civil law and canonical discipline.