Priest faces two felony charges

Kim Smith

Monday, April 22, 2002 | 9:35 a.m.

A Henderson priest accused of sexually assaulting six boys over a five-year period was to be charged today with seven gross misdemeanor counts and two felony counts.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Bloxham said this morning that the Rev. Mark Roberts would be charged today with two counts of using a minor in the production of pornography, two counts of open or gross lewdness and five counts of child abuse or neglect.

The lewdness and child abuse charges are gross misdemeanors carrying up to a one-year prison term, but the pornography charges are punishable by either five to 15 years in prison or a life sentence with parole possible after five years, Bloxham said.

Bloxham declined to comment further on the case, pending the official filing of the charges and attached police documents.

Police began investigating Roberts' actions after the priest was suspended from duty at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church Jan. 30.

In addition to criminal charges, Roberts could also face a civil trial.

Roberts was sued on March 21 by the families of six Henderson boys who allege he sexually assaulted them between 1996 and 2001.

The lawsuit also alleges that former Las Vegas Catholic Bishop Daniel Walsh, who was transferred from Las Vegas to Santa Rosa, Calif., in May 2000, his successor Bishop Joseph Pepe and the Diocese of Las Vegas were negligent, because they knew or should have known about the abuse and stopped it.

Bloxham said Roberts is out of the state but staying in touch with his attorney, George Foley Sr., who has promised to make his client available once the charges are filed.