Friar Felix C. Owino was arrested on July 8th by the Fairfax County Virginia police on charges that he supposedly molested a girl. Though we all long for bishop accountability, the Catholic Church didn’t let the public know until July 12th of 2010. It would be nice if more victims of clergy abuse came forward, but very few clergy abuse victims are comfortable enough to report their sex abuse to other clergy members or to family members or the authorities. Clergy sex abuse, sex abuse at the hands of a trusted church member, is a harrowing experience. Still, clergy abuse victim’s and all sex abuse victims deserve their day in court.
Clergy abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky wants all sex abuse victims to get their day in court. In addition to clergy sex abuse and priest abuse cases, Sam will expose all sexual abusers from any institution. In addition to clergy abuse, priest abuse and rabbi abuse, the Rogatinsky Firm files sexual abuse cases against churches, schools, mental health facilities, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and athletic organizations. He’ll pursue sex abusers no matter who they are, including psychologists, doctors, day care attendants, Boy Scout Masters, Coaches, educators and administrators. You can reach Sam on the toll free number found on this site or call him at (954) 995-3805 after hours. Mr. Rogatinsky believes child sex abuse support groups like http://stopbaptistpredators.org/index.htm and http://www.snapnetwork.org/ can help too.
The stories are too prevalent. It’s time victims stepped forward to help put an end to this crisis. West Virginia is not spared from the horrors of child sex abuse and you are not alone. Recently youth pastor Timothy C. Edmonds of Chesapeake allegedly sexually abused a former student. On July 31st, the Kanawha County grand jury filed 2 counts of sex abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian against the pastor. It’s a scary world. It’s time we made things right. http://www.wvrecord.com/news/214210-kanawha-man-indicted-on-sex-abuse-charges
Contact Sam if you have any type of sexual abuse or child sexual abuse case. The statute of limitations for West Virginia are listed here:
Statute of Limitations for Civil Cases:
- There is a 2 year Statute of Limitations for personal injury cases with a delayed tolling until the victim is 18. W. Va. Code § 55-2-15.
- Ignorance of existence of causality of injury or of identity of the sex abuser doesn’t prevent the Statute of Limitations from running out, the burden is on the sex abuse victim. The discovery rule cannot be extended past the 20 year Statute of repose in W. Va. Code § 55-2-15. See Donley v. Bracken, 192 W.Va. 383 (1994).
Statute of Limitations for Criminal Cases:
- There is no Statute of Limitations for felony sexual abuse and a 1 year Statute of Limitations for sex abuse misdemeanors. W. Va. Code § 61-8B-3, 4, 5, and 7.
If someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy, contact our law firm at (954) 995.3805 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Samuel Rogatinsky at samr@clergyabuse.org