Henderson priest waives hearing

Jace Radke

Thursday, June 20, 2002 | 9:18 a.m.

A Henderson priest accused of sexually abusing eight young men is waiving his preliminary hearing, according to a letter sent by his attorney to Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell.

The Rev. Mark Roberts is accused of using his religious authority at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church to lure young men into sexually compromising positions.

Roberts' attorney, George Foley Sr., states in the letter that he believes he has received a complete discovery, and sees no reason to insist upon a preliminary hearing.

Bell said that the move buys the defense some time, and also saves witnesses from having to take the stand in the hearing.

"Now these young men don't have to take the stand, be cross-examined and relive these instances in a public forum," Bell said.

A civil suit was filed on behalf of the victims on March 7, and the district attorney approved criminal charges against the priest in five of the cases on April 22.

If convicted Roberts could face permanent removal from the ministry, according to new guidelines passed at last week's meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas.

Bishop Joseph Pepe, head of the Diocese of Las Vegas, voted in favor of the adoption of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People at the conference.

The charter calls for the reporting of sexual abuse allegations to authorities, and removal of the alleged offender from ministerial duties while the allegations are investigated.

"Las Vegas already has a very strong policy in place for its community, and this nationwide charter is in keeping with the policy and the call for change which I think is important to the church," Pepe said in a prepared statement released last week.

Roberts was suspended with pay on Jan. 30 and remains free on $13,000 bail.

The Diocese of Las Vegas had no further comment on the case, and Foley Sr. did not return calls seeking comment.